Archive · 27 Dec 2025
AI's Impact on Engineering Education and Jobs
Professor T G Sitharam, who recently stepped down as the chairman of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), talked about how AI is changing engineering education and jobs in India.
He said that AI is not causing job losses but is creating a mismatch in skills.
Students today are more exposed to new technologies, but their preparedness varies.
AICTE is making changes to the curriculum to include AI, data science, and other new technologies.
Students are using AI tools in classrooms for coding and learning, but there are concerns about over-reliance on AI.
Many students are excited about new technologies and are participating in hackathons and startups.
The number of students enrolling in BTech programs is increasing, but many MTech seats remain vacant because students prefer jobs or PhD programs over further studies.
Sitharam also supports the idea of a single regulatory body for higher education to improve quality and reduce overlap.
AI is transforming jobs, creating demand for AI-skilled engineers, and causing skill mismatch rather than job loss.
Engineering education in India is evolving with a flexible, outcome-based, industry-aligned curriculum that includes AI, data science, and other emerging technologies.
Student preparedness for new technologies is uneven, with gaps between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
AI tools are being used in classrooms for coding, simulations, design, and personalized learning, with an emphasis on ethical use.
BTech enrolment is rising due to improved career perception and government initiatives, while many MTech seats remain vacant as students prefer jobs or PhD programs.
- Who
- Professor T G Sitharam, ex-chairman of AICTE and chair of Human Capital Working Group, India-AI Impact Summit 2026
- What
- AI's impact on engineering education, jobs, and skill mismatch
- When
- Ongoing, with the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 scheduled for February
- Where
- India, with a focus on engineering education and the tech workforce
- Why
- To address concerns over skill mismatch and prepare students for emerging technologies
- Professor T G Sitharam
- Ex-chairman of AICTE and chair of Human Capital Working Group, India-AI Impact Summit 2026
- AICTE Initiatives
- Flexible, outcome-based, industry-aligned curriculum with AI, data science, and other emerging tech
- Student Preparedness
- Uneven, with gaps between theoretical knowledge and practical application
- AI's Role in Jobs
- Transforms jobs, creates demand for AI-skilled engineers, concern over skill mismatch
- Classroom Impact
- AI tools used for coding, simulations, design, personalized learning, ethical use emphasized
- Student Response
- Enthusiastic, creative, participating in hackathons, startups, research projects
- BTech Enrolment
- Rising due to improved career perception, emerging sectors, government initiatives
- MTech Vacancies
- Students prefer early employment, entrepreneurship, or direct PhD over MTech