A period of transformations was affected with the onset of the global pandemic, in almost all aspects of life, three years ago. Some of the most significant alterations took place in India’s overall education system, and educational technology rose to the occasion, providing an effective alternative to traditional schools and institutions. Today, the use of technology has revolutionized education systems, enabling better reach and execution. The advent of new-age technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) is further enhancing learning for students, and bridging a crucial gap that persists between education and employability in the country.

Automation across industries has made jobs from ten years ago obsolete today, and the jobs present today are witnessing rapid transformation. It is thus imperative to keep track of industry trends and identify specific talent requirements that emerge. Thus, higher education in India has increased its focus on providing a hybrid learning environment for students, combining classroom and online education in efforts to better prepare students to learn more through on-site training programs. The demand for individualised learning solutions has also grown, and AI-powered EdTech firms have entered the traditional classroom setup to address these demands and provide personalised curriculums, tests, learning methods and delivery. On an individual level, providing customised learning opportunities was a challenge for teachers, who are now benefitting from AI-enabled systems. By automating administrative tasks, teachers have the opportunity to better utilise their time, and can use the assistance of AI in determining potential areas of difficulty for students, further helping them modify their instructions accordingly.

Today, an increasing number of students prefer academic freedom, learning at their own respective pace, and value quick acquisition of in-demand skills. In the field of higher education, AI has had a significant impact, emphasised by India’s Ministry of Education and the NITI Ayog, which has also pushed for the creation and introduction of new AI courses to equip students with advanced skills required for the current and future job market. Digital skills are in high demand, and are essential for being prepared for a competitive global market. To prosper in professional settings, it has become crucial for students to develop a fundamental understanding of productivity applications and harness complicated programming capabilities, such as in AI, machine learning, and data processing.

For students transitioning into job seekers, a prevailing challenge has been to get through the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) deployed by companies in the recruitment process. Crafting a comprehensive resume has become a skill on its own, and an estimated 75% of online employment applications are never reviewed by a human, making the process of submitting multiple job applications and not hearing back from any employer thoroughly frustrating. In order to address these issues, platforms have emerged that are enabled with resume comparison to Job Description, helping job seekers build the best possible resumes powered by AI. These platforms leverage AI capabilities to improve resume content with advanced analysis and provide useful tips to increase a candidate’s chances of getting selected. Certain platforms have also developed powerful AI tools to help job seekers prepare for job interviews in a systematic manner. With comprehensive job preparation resources, mock interviews, and personalised feedback powered by AI, such platforms are helping aspirants prepare and excel in interviews.

The emerging use cases of AI present an opportunity for India’s higher education to evolve and be transformed for the good. AI in education is expected to reach a market share of $21.52 billion by 2028, bringing with an increasing demand for specialized skills across sectors, in skills such as machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision, among many more. The growth being driven in related industries such as data science, analytics, and software development will create new job opportunities, and it will be crucial for India’s higher education to cope with these advancements through careful integration of technologies like AI, directly into degrees.

Arihant Jain, Co-founder, and CEO, Seekho