The Department of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, in collaboration with ISTE, successfully conducted a three-day online Faculty Development Program (FDP) on “Theoretical Foundations and Research Applications in Machine Learning and Deep Learning” during 15-17 February 2024. The event aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the latest developments in machine learning and deep learning to faculty members, fostering a culture of continuous learning and research.

Inauguration
The FDP commenced with a solemn prayer led by students Ms. Ann Rose (S4, AIML Dept) and Ms. Sreevidya P S (S4, AIML Dept) creating a reflective and focused atmosphere. Dr.Sunitha C (Vice Principal and Head of the Department of AIML) delivered welcome address. The inauguration ceremony featured Dr Jeeva Jose (Associate Professor, Baselios Poulose II Catholics College, Piravom and a distinguished Machine Learning Specialist) who inaugurated the FDP. Esteemed personalities, including Mr Suresh Lal (Executive Director, VICT), Adv P N Unnirajan IPS (Retd) (Director – Administration, VICT) and Dr Sudha Balagopalan (Dean Academics, VAST) provided insightful felicitation addresses. Ms Manjusha P (FDP Co-ordinator, Asst. Prof, AIML Dept) expressed gratitude in the vote of thanks, laying the foundation for an intellectually engaging occasion.

Sessions 
The FDP featured a diverse series of sessions, each meticulously curated to delve into the intricate aspects of machine learning and deep learning.

Day 1:
The first day began with Dr Jeeva Jose conducting a session on “Regression Models for Machine Learning: An In-Depth Exploration.” The session, starting at 10:00 AM, offered profound insights and concluded at 12.30 PM. Following this, the afternoon session, titled “Practical Insights into Classification Algorithms in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning,” commenced at 1:30 PM, providing participants with practical knowledge and concluding at 3:30 PM.

Day 2:
Dr. Manu Madhavan (Asst. Prof , IIIT, Kottayam) led the forenoon session on “Exploring Neural Networks & Advanced Deep Learning Models” from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The afternoon session focused on “Recurrent Neural Networks for Sequential Data Classification” and provided valuable insights into deep learning applications, concluding at 3:30 PM.

Day 3:
The final day featured Dr.Jayaraj P B (Associate Professor, NIT, Calicut) conducting a session on the “Application of AI in Healthcare” at 9:30 AM. Following this, Dr. A Jaya, (Professor, BSAR Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai) discussed “Learning Analytics and its Applications in Data Science” from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM. The last session, “Optimization in Machine Intelligence,” led by Dr Sudha Balagopalan (Dean Academics, VAST) was held at 1:30 PM and concluded at 3:00 PM.

Valedictory Session:
The FDP culminated with a valedictory session that commenced at 3:00 PM. Dr Sunitha C provided concluding remarks summarizing the key takeaways from the FDP. Participants shared their valuable feedback, emphasizing the program’s enriching content and interactive nature. Ms. Manjusha P D extended heartfelt thanks, officially concluding the event.

The three-day online FDP proved to be a resounding success, enriching participants with theoretical foundations and practical applications in machine learning and deep learning. Faculty members from nationwide AICTE approved colleges participated in the FDP. A total of 67 faculty members, comprising 40 from external institutions and 27 internal faculty, attended the FDP. The Co-ordinators received excellent feedback from the participants and an assessment test was conducted upon the conclusion of the program. E-certificates, study materials, and session recordings were furnished to both participants and resource persons. The department remains committed to fostering a culture of continuous learning and research, ensuring faculty members stay updated with the latest advancements in the dynamic field of artificial intelligence and machine learning.