Mangaluru: An international conference on Advanced Information Technology, Engineering and Management, was inaugurated at St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, on October 22. Organised by the postgraduate departments of the School of Information Science and Technology at the AIMIT Centre, the two-day conference brings together researchers, faculty members and postgraduate students to exchange research findings and explore emerging technologies.
Dr Suchetha Vijayakumar, dean of the School of Information Science and Technology, welcomed the gathering. The inaugural ceremony featured an invocation by the university choir and the ceremonial lighting of the lamp.
Chief guest Dr Ramesh Bhat M, head of Father Muller Research Centre and professor of dermatology at Father Muller Medical College, highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in addressing healthcare challenges.
Guest of honour Dr Ronald Nazareth, registrar of the university, encouraged students to apply technological knowledge to societal problems. Rev Dr Kiran Coth SJ, director of the AIMIT Centre, stressed the need for ethical AI adoption, creativity and critical thinking.
The conference also featured virtual addresses by Kiran Voderhobli of Leeds Beckett University, UK, and Rev Dr Jerome Manyahi SJ of Mwenge Catholic University, Tanzania.
In his keynote address, titled Bridging Medicine and Engineering — From Research Questions to Healthcare Innovation, Dr Bhat explored the applications of AI and information technology in healthcare, including teledermatology, hospital management systems and biomedical technologies.
The two-day conference features paper presentations and concept proposals across six thematic tracks, covering artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, big data analytics and management studies. Approximately 120 papers are scheduled for presentation, providing a platform for academic exchange, expert feedback and interdisciplinary research collaboration.
SACAIM 2026 aims to promote responsible technological innovation and research-driven solutions to contemporary challenges in healthcare, engineering, management and information technology.