The growing demand for professionals in the areas of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science has reflected in the new-generation interdisciplinary programmes proposed by government and aided colleges under Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) for the academic year 2020-21. The university had invited applications from higher educational institutions based on the government directive that such courses could be launched from November 1. The Higher Education Department had asked universities to initiate steps to launch new undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in innovative areas. They included four- and five-year programmes recommended by an expert committee set up by the government. The integrated M.Sc programme in Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning) figured top among the innovative programmes proposed by the affiliated colleges.

Some of the niche subjects that will find place in the new syllabus include robotics, artificial intelligence, and automation. Students enrolling for postgraduate programmes offered by Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) from the 2018-19 academic year have something to cheer about. The varsity had carried out syllabus and curriculum revision for its undergraduate courses in the academic year 2017-18. The syllabus revision will also take into account the research possibilities that students could undertake after postgraduation," he said. The revision of syllabus for postgraduate programmes was previously carried out in 2012.

Shortening product life cycles and constant evolution of international products and technologies are posing major challenges to businesses. Not just start-ups, but established businesses too are having to constantly evolve for keeping up with new trends in products, services and technologies. With innovation becoming a buzz word, going back to school to keep up with, if not go ahead of the curve, is seeing top managers and CEOs undertaking courses to acquire new skills-- 'retooling', in corporate jargon. "Typically, people who have reached the corner office in large organisations would have done their MBAs in the 1970s and 1980s," says Dr Farhan Pettiwala, president of Enactus India, a subsidiary of Enactus Worldwide, an international non-profit organisation of students with a focus on community empowerment through promotion of entrepreneurship. "They are extremely good at people skills, but struggle with technology, especially when it comes to the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence. So this aspect is missing in Indian education."