By; Prof. Supriya Pattanayak, Vice Chancellor, Centurion University, Odisha
Education in the 21st century has moved away from merely being a process of rote learning and then writing verbatim to holistic education where the focus has shifted to skill-based education. This metamorphosis has enabled the students to stay abreast with the needs of the industry and become job-ready once they pass out from university. With changing times Artificial Intelligence has also played a key role in the education system. We are witnessing the application of artificial intelligence in evaluation, and this is increasing even as we speak. This AI-based assessment reduces subjectivity and saves teachers’ time, leaving teachers with more time to devote to lesson planning and instruction. When AI begins to replace instructors, though, that is a cause for alarm. Since education requires face-to-face connection, I think we should rather not tamper with this system.
Teachers and educationists understand that the future belongs to AI and will become more pervasive and integrate into more facets of our lives. The worry that AI would eliminate jobs is also a result of this. However, to improve things, humans will need to stay on top of it and use technology. The workforce of the future must be prepared for the application of AI in more realms. And to do so, we need classes that get students ready for whatever the future may bring.
Earlier there were programmers and coders who would spend hours, days, and even months creating programs. Today with the help of AI one can do so within a short span of time. Engineers and graduates of computer science used to do be the best pick to do this laborious and mind-consuming task. Now Python programming makes it possible to complete tasks quickly by just dragging and dropping, something that was unthinkable just a few years ago.
Thus, academic institutions must adapt their curricula to the times and take into consideration the skill set that may be needed in the future. It is pertinent to include AI not just in teaching but also in course curriculum. Understanding artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, and other related technologies is crucial. During B Tech courses, these areas are offered as specialization subjects or as distinct streams. By studying the design, analysis, gathering, and interpretation of numerical data, data science aids in the comprehension and extraction of patterns from the data and technology. Data analysis is done utilizing big data tools like HADOOP, ETL tools, Python data visualization, spectral image analysis, and AI/ML applications.
To be future-ready, students can opt for graduate programs that can help them land jobs as Software developers, database administrators, cloud computing engineers, metaverse programmers, data architects, digital data visualisers, data ecologists, clinical and pharmaceutical analysts, data technologies specialists, digital manufacturing engineers, financial modellers, full-stack developers, and machine learning engineers are among the professions. One can choose to specialise in any of them according to their specialization.
Another area that will need more qualified workers in the future is cyber security. Every person on the planet has access to the internet, where they socialise, conduct business, and provide a range of services. But criminals have been doing this and will continue to look for ways to commit fraud or use personal information to extort others. Students that take a cyber security course learn how to defend computer operating systems, keep an eye on systems, reduce dangers, and secure networks and data from online attacks.
Courses like RemoteInfrastructure Management enables students to manage computers and get hands ontraining with wired and Wi-Fi protocols. When such courses have CISCO certifications (CCNAand CCNP) and EC-Council certifications, it creates Network Security Engineer,Cyber Security Architect, Cyber Security Analyst, Cyber Security Manager, Information Security Manager,Chief InformationSecurity Officer (CISO), Cyber Security Engineer etc.
Besides, since enterprises are quickly adopting Cloud Technology, and using the same in different ways, its penetration is predicted to increase significantly over the next ten years. Students can be prepared to be useful in the future by taking a course that gives them the opportunity to establish up software management enterprises using cloud technologies. Along with managing their own data centres, universities are collaborating with AWS to give students the necessary skill set. Future cloud engineers, architects, consultants, DevOps engineers, security engineers, data engineers, full-stack developers, cloud system administrators, and user interface developers will all be completely prepared by this.
In the coming years, an undergraduate education in software as a service (SAAS) is probably going to be in high demand. With the use of CMS technologies, such a course can assist students in learning both software engineering and project management techniques. Software Requirement Specifications (SRS) will be written, tested, and deployed by them. Since this is a constantly evolving market, one must remain alert and adjust to new platforms. You can work as an applications developer, cyber security analyst, game developer, or information systems manager with a SAAS degree.
Other emerging industries that can guarantee a student never loses a job are mobile applications and the internet of things. The secret is to be creative and open to trying new things. You can expect to succeed when you’re prepared to take on the obstacles that life and evolving technologies present. Furthermore, rather of being a barrier, AI will develop into a tool that helps further establish a road map for success.