In a remarkable example of the enduring spirit of alumni giving back to their alma mater, Aligarh Muslim University has announced the establishment of a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Laboratory at the Zakir Husain College of Engineering and Technology (ZHCET). The initiative has been made possible through a generous donation of Rs 34 lakh by AMU alumna Dr Masarrat Shikoh (Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Ministry of Interior in Saudi Arabia), whose son, Mr. Syed Mohammad Waheed, has conceived and founded the lab.
Mr. Waheed, a recognized global AI Ambassador and published AI Ethics author, has previously served as an AI Research Officer in a UK Government AI project and will act as the Founder and Strategic Advisor of the laboratory. Deeply connected to AMU through generations of family association, he envisioned the lab as a platform to strengthen AI research, innovation, and responsible AI governance at the University.
The AI Lab, to be established in the Department of Computer Engineering, will focus on applied AI research, Generative AI, AI Agents, Agentic AI systems, Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), and ethical AI frameworks, while also promoting industry-academia collaborations and advanced student training.
The formal announcement ceremony was graced by the Vice Chancellor of AMU, Prof. Naima Khatoon, Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. Mohammad Mohsin Khan, Registrar Prof. Aasim Zafar, Controller of Examinations Dr. Mujeeb Ullah Zuberi, Proctor Prof. Mohammed Naved Khan, Finance Officer Mr. Noorus Salaam, and alumnus Syed Husain Waheed, father of Mr. Waheed.
Appreciating the initiative, Prof. Naima Khatoon said that the contribution reflects the deep emotional bond AMU alumni continue to share with the university. She observed that such initiatives not only strengthen academic infrastructure but also inspire future generations to contribute towards knowledge creation and nation-building.
Mr. Waheed stated that the initiative aims to ensure that institutions like AMU emerge as active contributors to the rapidly evolving global AI ecosystem. He added that the lab would help nurture talent, encourage ethical AI research, and prepare students for the transformative future of intelligent technologies.
