Ashoka University Announces Vachani School of Advanced Computing (VSAC)

On 11th March 2026, Ashoka announced the launch of Vachani School of Advanced Computing (VSAC), under a grant given by Mr. Sunil Vachani, founder and chairman of Dixon Technologies. The move comes a year after the announcement of Ashoka School of Advanced Computing (ASAC).

The school seeks to expand the scope of computer science by integrating it with other disciplines to address complex social issues.

With its launch, Ashoka will offer more interdisciplinary majors, such as, CS and Mathematics (with specialisations in Data Science and Machine Learning; or Cryptography, Number Theory, and Algebra); and CS and Artificial Intelligence. VSAC also plans to introduce a minor in AI and data science, and an interdisciplinary Cognitive Science major.

Professor Santanu Chaudhary has been appointed as the first dean of VSAC, to work alongside the existing Computer Science department, and an advisory board of computer science experts from across the world. Professor Chaudhary has a PhD in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Kharagpur. Previously, he was Director at IIT Jodhpur.

VSAC will also incorporate certain centres at Ashoka such as, Centre for Data Science and Analytics (CDSA), SafeExpress Centre for Data, Learning and Decision Sciences, Centre for Digitalisation, AI, and Society, Koita Centre for Digital Health (KCDH-A)(in a joint initiative with the Trivedi School of Biosciences).

VSAC is the seventh school at Ashoka, joining schools such as Trivedi School of Biosciences, Harish and Bina Shah School of Humanities, and Rakesh Jhunjhunwala School of Economics and Finance.

This aligns with the university's move to expand the Psychology programme to the Psychology and Cognitive Sciences  programme under Professor Nandini Chatterjee Singh as Head of Department. These expansions are with the intention of “blending rigorous technical training with social and ethical awareness”, said Professor Somak Raychaudhury, Vice Chancellor,  Ashoka University regarding ASAC.

[Edited By Tanisha Pandey and Giya Sood]