Personalised learning through AI is the future: VIT Vice-President Sekar Viswanathan

Sekar Viswanathan discusses VIT's AI-driven personalized learning initiatives and the importance of faculty training at The Hindu Tech Summit 2026.

Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) is actively working toward integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the education sector, particularly for personalised learning, as the future of academic advancement, said Sekar Viswanathan, Vice-President, VIT, at The Hindu Tech Summit 2026 hosted by The Hindu, presented byVIT, and co-presented by Sify Technologies, in Chennai on Thursday (February 12, 2026).

Noting that the institution has been adopting innovative AI-based tools and systems to enhance the overall learning experience for students, he said faculty also need to be updated with technology to enlighten students about various developments.

In a conversation with Ramya Kannan, Chief of Bureau (Tamil Nadu), The Hindu, on ‘From Classrooms to Cosmos’, Mr. Sekar elaborated on various facilities, such as a Teaching Learning Centre of Excellence and faculty development centres, where faculty are encouraged to attend knowledge sessions on agentic AI and AI in solar energy. Faculty training is key in providing quality education, he said.

Responding to a question on using AI and Internet of Things (IoT) in various disciplines, he said non-engineering schools also get the advantage of technology. For instance, law school students learn about cyber security law and AI in law, and agricuture students are exposed to drone technology and remote sensing in agriculture and smart farming. “We make sure that AI is used in every subject, and it is the common denominator so that students gain domain expertise and also learn to integrate technology in all fields,” he said.

Highlighting programmes like curriculum for applied learning and adaptive curriculum for excellence, Mr. Sekar said students are allowed to study other subjects apart from their discipline. For instance, a mechanical student can learn marketing or specialise in IoT. “We allow programme migration. Multidisciplinary education will increase their employability,” he said.

On a question on digital divide and limitations to students’ access to technology, he said VIT has started online courses to reach out to students in remote areas. The country has also made significant progress in providing technological access to the student community, he added.