Alumni and corporates back AI centre, health facilities and sustainability project

The College of Engineering, Guindy (CEG), under Anna University in Chennai, is set to undergo a major infrastructure upgrade worth nearly Rs 14 crore, largely funded through alumni contributions and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

A Centre for Artificial Intelligence and an Institute for Problem Solving will headline the projects, with the AI facility funded by a 2000-batch alumnus at Rs 1 crore. The Institute, supported by another alumnus, will aim to sharpen critical thinking skills among students.

The drive also includes the modernisation of the university’s Health Centre, supported by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd with Rs 30 lakh, and the installation of a Rs 50 lakh visitor management system funded by a 1996-batch alumnus. Additional works cover seminar halls with digital boards, upgraded cafeterias and modern restrooms across campuses.

Sustainability initiatives form a key part of the plan, including a Miyawaki forest, a rainwater harvesting system and a solar power plant to cut the university’s carbon footprint. A virtual computer numerical control (CNC) simulator laboratory and an AR/VR facility for Industry 4.0 training have also been set up to enhance practical learning.