The convocation was held at the BITS Pilani Goa campus and featured Mr. Rakesh Kumar Verma, Co-Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of MapmyIndia, as the chief guest. A distinguished alumnus of BITS Pilani, Verma encouraged graduates to combine technical expertise with curiosity, resilience and sound human judgment as they build their careers.

The ceremony was presided over by Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Group Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani, in the presence of Prof. Suman Kundu, Director of the K K Birla Goa Campus, members of the Board of Governors, faculty, students and families.

BITS Pilani Goa Convocation 2026: 1,109 Students Graduate

The graduating batch represented a diverse range of academic programmes offered at the Goa campus.

• 674 First Degree students
• 257 Dual Degree students
• 121 Higher Degree students
• 57 PhD scholars

The graduating cohort highlights the institution’s growing contribution to engineering education, scientific research, advanced technology and doctoral scholarship.

Commissioned in 2004, the K K Birla Goa Campus operates from a sprawling 180-acre campus near Vasco-da-Gama in Goa. Over the years, the campus has developed into an important academic and research centre with modern laboratories, interdisciplinary programmes and industry-oriented educational opportunities.

Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao Highlights Curiosity, Integrity and Excellence

Addressing the graduating students, Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao encouraged them to continue following the values of curiosity, integrity and excellence that are associated with BITS Pilani.

He also highlighted changes being introduced in the institution’s academic curriculum to prepare students for a technology-driven economy.

BITS Pilani has been redesigning its curriculum to provide students with greater academic flexibility through cross-disciplinary electives, minors and emerging technology programmes.

The focus is on preparing graduates who can work across traditional disciplinary boundaries and respond effectively to challenges created by developments in areas such as artificial intelligence, deep technology, advanced computing and quantum technologies.

As industries increasingly seek professionals capable of combining expertise from multiple domains, interdisciplinary education is becoming an important part of preparing students for future careers.

Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal Winners at BITS Pilani Goa

Several students received academic honours during the BITS Pilani Goa Convocation 2026.

Among the First Degree graduates, Shamit Khetan received the Gold Medal. Vrishti Deepak Godhwani was awarded the Silver Medal, while Aditya Ashok Tailor received the Bronze Medal.

Among the Higher Degree students, Sumit Sakharam Ghodke and Rudraksh Alias Bhagwant Mukund Suryarao Sardesai jointly received the Gold Medal.

Vignesh A and Neelima M received the Silver Medal in the Higher Degree category.

The Prof. Suman Kapur Memorial Best PhD Thesis Award 2026 was presented to Dr. Madduri Madhuri for outstanding doctoral research.

The Prof. Raghurama Outstanding Student Award 2025–26 was presented to Aarya Ameet Agavekar, Himangi Aggarwal and Shamit Khetan.

These awards recognised outstanding academic performance, research contributions and student achievement across programmes.

Rakesh Kumar Verma Advises Graduates to Stay Adaptable

Chief guest Rakesh Kumar Verma used his address to highlight the importance of adaptability in a professional environment undergoing rapid technological transformation.

He encouraged graduates to remain curious, resilient and willing to continuously learn throughout their careers.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly changing the way professionals work across engineering, entrepreneurship, business, research and technology. Verma advised students to view AI as a powerful tool while continuing to rely on human judgment, creativity, curiosity and purpose.

His message emphasised that technology should complement human decision-making rather than replace the qualities that allow individuals to solve complex problems.

Verma also encouraged graduates to think beyond personal achievement. According to his message, professional success should also be evaluated through the positive value individuals create for society.

BITS Pilani Goa Expands Programmes in Emerging Technologies

The Goa campus introduced several new academic initiatives during the year, strengthening its focus on advanced technologies and international education.

One of the major additions was a co-tutelage 2+2 Computer Science programme with RMIT University, Australia.

The partnership provides students with increased opportunities for international academic exposure and collaboration.

BITS Pilani Goa also introduced two new postgraduate engineering programmes:

• M.E. in Quantum Science and Technology
• M.E. in Quantum Information Processing

A new Minor in Computing and Intelligence was also introduced.

These programmes reflect the growing demand for professionals trained in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and advanced computing technologies.

Research Projects Worth Over ₹30.72 Crore

Research remained an important focus of the Goa campus during the academic year.

The campus secured 91 sponsored research projects worth more than ₹30.72 crore and produced 720 research publications.

Faculty members worked across several emerging and strategically important areas, including:

• Green hydrogen
• Quantum technologies
• Advanced semiconductor devices
• Indigenous navigation systems

Research in these areas is particularly relevant to India’s growing focus on clean energy, semiconductor manufacturing, advanced computing and technological self-reliance.

The number of sponsored projects and research publications also demonstrates the campus’ increasing involvement in research-driven innovation.

New Laboratories and Innovation Infrastructure

BITS Pilani Goa has also been expanding its research and innovation infrastructure.

New and upgraded facilities include laboratories focusing on augmented reality and virtual reality, biomedical engineering, impact engineering and micro-fabrication.

The campus has also developed a BSL-2 biosciences facility, which can support advanced biological and biomedical research.

Another notable initiative is the AICTE IDEA Lab, which is supported by a proposed investment of approximately ₹90 lakh.

The facility is expected to provide students with opportunities to experiment, prototype ideas and develop innovative solutions. Such infrastructure can also support entrepreneurship by allowing students to convert academic concepts into practical projects and potential startups.

BITS Pilani Goa Strengthens Its Role in India’s Innovation Ecosystem

The BITS Pilani Goa Convocation 2026 represented more than the completion of academic programmes for 1,109 students.

It also highlighted the institution’s continuing efforts to strengthen interdisciplinary education, international collaboration, research and emerging technology programmes.

From quantum science and artificial intelligence to green hydrogen, semiconductor technology and biomedical engineering, the Goa campus is expanding its academic and research activities in areas expected to influence the future of technology.

For graduates, the convocation marked the beginning of a new professional journey. The message from academic leaders and the chief guest remained clear: technical knowledge will continue to be important, but qualities such as curiosity, adaptability, integrity, resilience and human judgment will be equally critical.

As the Class of 2026 enters careers in engineering, research, entrepreneurship, higher education and business, the graduating students will carry forward the academic foundation and interdisciplinary outlook developed at BITS Pilani.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. When was BITS Pilani Goa Convocation 2026 held?

BITS Pilani’s K K Birla Goa Campus held its Convocation 2026 on August 9, 2026, at the Goa campus.

2. How many students graduated from BITS Pilani Goa in 2026?

A total of 1,109 students graduated during the ceremony, including 674 First Degree students, 257 Dual Degree students, 121 Higher Degree students and 57 PhD scholars.

3. Who was the chief guest at BITS Pilani Goa Convocation 2026?

Rakesh Kumar Verma, Co-Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of MapmyIndia and a BITS Pilani alumnus, attended the ceremony as the chief guest.

4. Who received the Gold Medal at BITS Pilani Goa Convocation 2026?

Shamit Khetan received the Gold Medal among First Degree graduates. Among Higher Degree students, Sumit Sakharam Ghodke and Rudraksh Alias Bhagwant Mukund Suryarao Sardesai jointly received the Gold Medal.

5. What new programmes has BITS Pilani Goa introduced?

The Goa campus introduced a 2+2 Computer Science programme with RMIT University, Australia, M.E. programmes in Quantum Science and Technology and Quantum Information Processing, along with a Minor in Computing and Intelligence.

Experts interested in contributing to the programme can submit proposals for approximately three-hour courses, with the deadline for submissions set for 30 August 2026.

Selected courses will be delivered during 2026 and made available through the IEEE Learning Network, allowing instructors to reach engineers, professionals and technology decision-makers across the world.

The initiative provides subject-matter experts with an opportunity to share practical knowledge while IEEE manages the production and delivery process.

Rather than focusing primarily on theoretical concepts, proposed courses are expected to provide practical knowledge that participants can apply in industrial environments.

The course duration should be approximately three hours, making the programme suitable for professionals who want to gain specialised skills without committing to longer academic programmes.

Under the programme, instructors will develop and provide the course content, while IEEE will take responsibility for the production process and distribution through its learning platform.

The 2026 Educational Series forms part of the broader professional development activities conducted by IEEE SPS, which provides learning opportunities for both IEEE members and non-members.

Key Areas for IEEE SPS Course Proposals

The IEEE Signal Processing Society has highlighted several emerging technology areas where professional training is becoming increasingly important.

However, experts are also encouraged to propose courses covering other relevant topics related to signal processing and emerging technologies.

1. Foundation Models in Industry

Foundation models are rapidly becoming an important part of enterprise AI applications.

This area may include courses focused on multimodal large language models capable of processing multiple types of information, including text, images, audio and video.

Industry-focused courses could explore how foundation models can operate as an intelligence layer for robots, autonomous systems and physical AI agents.

Another potential area is the integration of foundation models with continuous signal streams generated by cameras, microphones and industrial sensors.

Courses may also examine vision-language-action models, which combine visual understanding, language processing and physical actions.

Such systems could become increasingly important in robotics, manufacturing, autonomous machines and intelligent industrial systems.

2. Edge AI and Efficient Signal Processing

Edge computing is another major focus of the IEEE SPS educational initiative.

Many organisations are moving AI processing away from centralised cloud infrastructure and towards devices located closer to where data is generated.

These devices may include smartphones, industrial sensors, embedded systems, robots and Internet of Things devices.

Running complex AI models on such hardware can be challenging because these devices often have limited computing power, memory and energy resources.

Courses proposed under this category may address technologies such as:

• Extreme model quantisation
• Hardware-aware AI optimisation
• Efficient neural-network architectures
• Neuromorphic engineering
• Embedded signal processing
• On-device machine learning inference

These techniques can help organisations deploy AI applications on relatively low-cost hardware while reducing latency, cloud dependency and operational expenses.

Practical knowledge in Edge AI is becoming especially important for industries including automotive engineering, manufacturing, healthcare technology, telecommunications and robotics.

3. Trustworthy AI and Signal Forensics

As AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated, organisations are facing new security challenges.

The IEEE SPS is therefore encouraging courses focused on trustworthy AI and signal forensics.

Potential subjects include deepfake detection, digital watermarking, adversarial attacks and secure sensor systems.

Deepfake technology, for example, can generate highly realistic artificial audio and video content. This creates challenges for organisations that need to determine whether digital media is authentic.

Signal watermarking can provide one method of identifying or protecting digital content.

Courses may also examine adversarial attacks in which sensor data or AI inputs are manipulated to produce incorrect system behaviour.

These security challenges are particularly relevant for autonomous vehicles, intelligent surveillance systems, robotics and other technologies that rely heavily on sensor data.

Industry professionals working in cybersecurity, AI governance and intelligent systems may therefore benefit significantly from practical training in this area.

4. Physics-Informed Machine Learning

Another important area highlighted by IEEE SPS is physics-informed machine learning.

Traditional machine-learning systems often depend heavily on large datasets. However, engineers and researchers may already have valuable knowledge about the physical systems generating those datasets.

Physics-informed machine learning attempts to incorporate scientific knowledge, engineering principles and signal-processing expertise directly into machine-learning models.

For example, engineers may use known physical equations or signal characteristics to guide model training.

This approach can potentially improve data efficiency, explainability and model performance.

It may also help machine-learning systems operate more effectively when they encounter conditions that were not well represented in their training data.

The topic is particularly relevant in areas including industrial engineering, communications, energy systems, medical imaging and scientific computing.

IEEE Learning Network Offers Global Professional Education

Courses selected for the IEEE SPS Educational Series will be distributed through the IEEE Learning Network.

The platform provides a wide range of engineering and technology learning resources designed for professionals at different stages of their careers.

IEEE Learning Network programmes cover areas such as artificial intelligence, communications, computing, electronics and engineering.

Some programmes may also provide professional development benefits such as certificates, Professional Development Hours (PDHs) and Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

By including selected SPS courses on the platform, instructors can potentially reach professionals working across industries and geographical locations.

Opportunity for Researchers and Industry Experts

The IEEE SPS call for proposals provides an opportunity for experts to contribute directly to professional education in rapidly developing technology areas.

Researchers can translate their technical knowledge into practical courses, while industry professionals can share lessons gained through real-world deployments.

Technology leaders may also use the platform to educate professionals about emerging engineering approaches and implementation challenges.

Potential instructors could come from sectors including artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, telecommunications, semiconductors, embedded systems and digital signal processing.

A strong course proposal should therefore demonstrate not only technical expertise but also clear practical value for working professionals.

How to Submit an IEEE SPS Course Proposal

Experts interested in participating in the programme should prepare a proposal for a course of approximately three hours.

The proposal should focus on practical learning and demonstrate how participants could apply the knowledge in real industry environments.

According to the announcement, the deadline to submit proposals is 30 August 2026.

Interested instructors can submit their proposals through the official Google Forms link provided by the IEEE Signal Processing Society.

Selected courses will become part of the 2026 Educational Series.

Why the IEEE SPS Initiative Matters

Artificial intelligence and signal-processing technologies are developing quickly, creating a growing need for continuous professional education.

Technologies such as foundation models, Edge AI, multimodal systems and intelligent robotics are moving from research environments into real-world industrial applications.

At the same time, organisations must address challenges involving security, computational efficiency, transparency and responsible AI deployment.

Short, specialised courses can help professionals understand these developments without requiring them to undertake lengthy academic programmes.

The IEEE SPS Educational Series therefore provides both instructors and learners with a platform for exchanging practical knowledge about technologies that could shape the future of engineering and industry.

For experts with hands-on experience in AI, signal processing, robotics, embedded technologies and cybersecurity, the 2026 call for course proposals presents an opportunity to contribute to the global professional-learning ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the IEEE SPS 2026 Educational Series?

The IEEE SPS 2026 Educational Series is a professional development initiative organised by the IEEE Signal Processing Society. It will feature short, industry-oriented courses covering emerging technologies and practical applications of signal processing.

2. Who can submit an IEEE SPS course proposal?

Researchers, engineers, industry experts, technology professionals and subject-matter specialists with practical expertise in relevant areas can submit course proposals.

3. What should be the duration of the proposed course?

Proposed courses should be approximately three hours long and should primarily focus on practical learning and real-world applications.

4. What topics is IEEE SPS looking for?

Priority areas include foundation models in industry, Edge AI, efficient signal processing, trustworthy AI, signal forensics and physics-informed machine learning. Experts may also propose other relevant subjects.

5. What is the last date to submit an IEEE SPS course proposal?

The deadline for submitting proposals for the 2026 IEEE SPS Educational Series is 30 August 2026.