B-schools embrace AI in teaching, but faculty remains unprepared: Will curriculum change keep up?
In India, the story of unemployment often starts and ends with statistics. But digging deeper behind the numbers reveals a deeper crisis. It shows that graduates are embarking onto the marketplace with outdated, redundant, or misaligned skills with industry demands. Degrees in hand, many students still find themselves ill-equipped for the realities of a fast-evolving corporate picture, where theory alone cannot guarantee employability.
Business schools are now emerging as the frontline response to the challenge. By integrating generative AI into teaching, research, and curriculum development, these institutions aim to produce graduates with practical and industry-related skills. But optimism is tempered by caution: Faculty readiness, ethical concerns, and the lack of structured training threaten to slate brakes on momentum.
AI: The new catalyst for employable graduates
Artificial intelligence is altering the face of the corporate world in innumerable ways. Hence, it is essential for the young workforce to mould themselves accordingly. They should be well-equipped to integrate AI into the workflow. The eminent institutions have always captured the headlines and been a thing of criticism for their outdated curriculum. However, the business schools have presented the answers in a righteous manner.
But the real challenges are that the faculty members are not well versed in the domain of artificial intelligence. A recent report churned out this paradox. A survey by MBAUniverse.com, spanning 235 faculty members across top Indian B-schools, including IIMs , IITs, ISB, XLRI, SPJIMR, MDI, and NMIMS, highlights the current AI picture.
Only 7 percent of faculty identify as AI experts, while 55 percent consider themselves intermediate users. Despite limited expertise, 51 percent believe AI is positively impacting student learning.
Research and teaching are the primary areas of AI adoption, while curriculum design is beginning to catch up. Administrative tasks and student assessment remain underutilized, pointing to a significant opportunity for structured integration. ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Perplexity are the most widely used tools, while Meta AI lags in relevance.
Faculty concerns: Ethics and oversight
Even as AI adoption grows, faculty apprehensions persist. About 18 per cent of respondents report an unfavourable impact on student learning, and 21 per cent feel it is too early to assess. Ethical dilemmas, concerns over output reliability, and the absence of regulatory guidelines are flagged as major challenges. These hurdles underline the need for formal training, ethical frameworks, and robust policy guidance to ensure AI strengthens education rather than undermines it.
Why AI integration matters
AI is changing the face of business with its own contours. From finance to marketing, no domain remains untouched. Embedding artificial intelligence into the curriculum ensures students gain firsthand experience with the technologies shaping the global economy. It cultivates analytical thinking, enhances problem solving and prepares graduates to take part in AI decision making processes.
Moreover, AI integration helps students understand not just the mechanics, but the ethical and strategic implications of technology. They learn to navigate algorithmic biases, data privacy issues, and the social impact of AI-driven decisions. Such training produces not only competent managers but responsible leaders capable of guiding organizations in a complex, tech-driven world.
Bridging the gap between academia and industry
Employers increasingly demand graduates who can operate in AI-enabled environments. By integrating AI into coursework, B-schools reduce the skills gap between what students learn and market requires. Students exposed to AI gain experience in practical applications, including automation tools, business simulations, and data analysis softwares.
AI allows students to immerse themselves in adaptive learning within the classroom itself. Intelligent tutoring systems, generative AI tools, and analytics-driven assessments personalize education, catering to individual student strengths and weaknesses. This not only improves learning outcomes but cultivates a culture of continuous skill development.
Conclusion
India’s skill gap is both urgent and immense. Business schools, armed with AI, are uniquely positioned to address it. Yet success will depend on more than technology, it will require deliberate training, ethical vigilance, and a curriculum aligned with the demands of modern business. For B-schools, the challenge is clear: Produce graduates who can thrive, adapt, and lead in a rapidly changing world.
(With PTI inputs)
Business schools are now emerging as the frontline response to the challenge. By integrating generative AI into teaching, research, and curriculum development, these institutions aim to produce graduates with practical and industry-related skills. But optimism is tempered by caution: Faculty readiness, ethical concerns, and the lack of structured training threaten to slate brakes on momentum.
AI: The new catalyst for employable graduates
Artificial intelligence is altering the face of the corporate world in innumerable ways. Hence, it is essential for the young workforce to mould themselves accordingly. They should be well-equipped to integrate AI into the workflow. The eminent institutions have always captured the headlines and been a thing of criticism for their outdated curriculum. However, the business schools have presented the answers in a righteous manner.
But the real challenges are that the faculty members are not well versed in the domain of artificial intelligence. A recent report churned out this paradox. A survey by MBAUniverse.com, spanning 235 faculty members across top Indian B-schools, including IIMs , IITs, ISB, XLRI, SPJIMR, MDI, and NMIMS, highlights the current AI picture.
Only 7 percent of faculty identify as AI experts, while 55 percent consider themselves intermediate users. Despite limited expertise, 51 percent believe AI is positively impacting student learning.
Research and teaching are the primary areas of AI adoption, while curriculum design is beginning to catch up. Administrative tasks and student assessment remain underutilized, pointing to a significant opportunity for structured integration. ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Perplexity are the most widely used tools, while Meta AI lags in relevance.
Faculty concerns: Ethics and oversight
Even as AI adoption grows, faculty apprehensions persist. About 18 per cent of respondents report an unfavourable impact on student learning, and 21 per cent feel it is too early to assess. Ethical dilemmas, concerns over output reliability, and the absence of regulatory guidelines are flagged as major challenges. These hurdles underline the need for formal training, ethical frameworks, and robust policy guidance to ensure AI strengthens education rather than undermines it.
Why AI integration matters
AI is changing the face of business with its own contours. From finance to marketing, no domain remains untouched. Embedding artificial intelligence into the curriculum ensures students gain firsthand experience with the technologies shaping the global economy. It cultivates analytical thinking, enhances problem solving and prepares graduates to take part in AI decision making processes.
Moreover, AI integration helps students understand not just the mechanics, but the ethical and strategic implications of technology. They learn to navigate algorithmic biases, data privacy issues, and the social impact of AI-driven decisions. Such training produces not only competent managers but responsible leaders capable of guiding organizations in a complex, tech-driven world.
Bridging the gap between academia and industry
Employers increasingly demand graduates who can operate in AI-enabled environments. By integrating AI into coursework, B-schools reduce the skills gap between what students learn and market requires. Students exposed to AI gain experience in practical applications, including automation tools, business simulations, and data analysis softwares.
AI allows students to immerse themselves in adaptive learning within the classroom itself. Intelligent tutoring systems, generative AI tools, and analytics-driven assessments personalize education, catering to individual student strengths and weaknesses. This not only improves learning outcomes but cultivates a culture of continuous skill development.
Conclusion
India’s skill gap is both urgent and immense. Business schools, armed with AI, are uniquely positioned to address it. Yet success will depend on more than technology, it will require deliberate training, ethical vigilance, and a curriculum aligned with the demands of modern business. For B-schools, the challenge is clear: Produce graduates who can thrive, adapt, and lead in a rapidly changing world.
(With PTI inputs)
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