AI Will Make Education More Productive & Efficient: Subir Verma, FORE School
How are you carrying forward the legacy of B-schools in India?
We are at a very exciting time in India for students, faculty and for Indian educators. Industry has been changing, management knowledge over time has evolved and the context has become more challenging. I think this has enabled all of us to use technology and ensure education becomes more immersive, practice-based and relevant. We see a tremendous change in terms of our course curriculum, content and pedagogy.
What are the biggest challenges that B-schools are grappling with?
The first challenge is that technology has brought in new ways of learning. Today, we have to combine both online and offline education. This kind of right combination is required to provide students flexibility and also choices in choosing courses and specialisation. We have various ways and means by which we can combine in-class learning with out-of-class learning.
The other change is in our courses; our courses now have to enable our students and our graduates to become more competent in managing situations in a technology-determined industry. That means courses like artificial intelligence, machine learning, cyber security, blockchain and data analysis are must-do courses for all the students, irrespective of their specialisation.
How do you see the role of artificial intelligence in management studies?
AI in management studies is all about a movement towards making organisations and individuals more productive and efficient. The challenges it has thrown are in the spheres of inclusivity and equity. We need to be alert about mindless adoption and applications of AI. We need to be aware of advantages in terms of productivity and decision-making, but we also need to be very careful of how we are applying it. And that can happen only in settings that educational institutions provide.
What are the expectations of industry from B-schools?
Expectations of industry from B-schools have changed over time. Gone are the days when industry would have time to train people, put them into one-year-long internships or a training programme and then finally provide them with regular employment. Now, the industry people want students to come straight away from the classroom and start applying whatever they have learnt or start unlearning whatever they have learnt and learn new skills that are more relevant and applicable in the corporate setting. They want a more finished product who knows how to use technology, a product that has awareness of both context of the business and also application of the domain knowledge.
How do you see the infrastructure changes happening in B-schools?
Almost all B-schools have become more technology-enabled. And we have to provide immersive experiences. Usage of games and simulations has become very important. Teaching in the form of experiential learning activities, and also in the form of theatre has become very important for the pedagogy. So, infrastructure space has become important for the students – not just in the classroom but the social space where they can learn from each other. Apart from that we also need a full-fledged lab – not just a computer lab but retail lab, finance lab etc.
