AI is changing students’ goals and what employers need. With advancements in AI, many jobs that were popular five to ten years ago are now less appealing to students. The challenge is whether universities can address this gap. Can online or hybrid learning help reduce the skills gap? Experts discuss how schools and colleges can meet this rising demand and bridge the skills gap.
Prof. (Dr.) Amit Jain, Vice Chancellor of Amity University Rajasthan, Jaipur, says that the industry has changed significantly in the last decade.
AI replace traditional jobs
Traditional jobs like data entry operators, travel desk executives, entry-level IT support, and basic telemarketing have been replaced by automation, AI, and cloud services. In their place, new roles such as AI and Machine Learning Engineers, Cybersecurity Analysts, Cloud Architects, Data Engineers, and specialists in AI ethics and governance have emerged.
Meeting Industry Demands
“Universities cannot chase every new role. Our job is to build strong foundations, analytical skills, and the confidence to keep learning. Curriculum reform should shift from rigid structures to problem-based learning, industry exposure, and hands-on experience. Online and hybrid learning can support this shift, but only as an extension of campus-based mentoring and practice. Technology is an enabler, not a replacement for good academic design,” says Prof. Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani.
“For higher education institutions, the challenge is managing the part of education that prepares students for the workforce. Curricula must keep up with industry changes, not academic schedules,” adds Jain.
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