IIT Jodhpur, Kanpur launch programmes for Gen Z careers as AI reshapes jobs

IIT Jodhpur and Kanpur have introduced programmes that combine business, technology and AI skills. Gen Zs are not simply choosing between "business" and "tech," but increasingly looking for ways to combine both in careers that are more resilient to disruption.IIT Jodhpur, IIT Kanpur launch new AI-era courses as Gen Z prioritises skills over degreesAs artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes entry-level hiring and blurs the line between technical and managerial work, Gen Z is increasingly making career choices that are strategic, interdisciplinary and outcome-driven rather than purely aspirational. Two recent IIT initiatives — IIT Jodhpur’s BS in Management and Technology and IIT Kanpur’s online certificate course in Advanced Data Science and Machine Learning for Business Analytics — capture the changing logic of how young professionals are preparing for the workforce.IIT JODHPUR'S NEW BS IN MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGYAt IIT Jodhpur, the new BS in Management and Technology has been positioned as a response to the growing need for graduates who can combine management thinking with technological fluency. Prof. Avinash Kumar Agarwal, Director, IIT Jodhpur, said the programme was designed in direct response to a shift in the job market, where “the foundational skills required to be ‘hire-ready’ are evolving faster than traditional curricula can keep pace with.”He added that flexibility and the ability to connect management thinking with technological fluency are now a baseline, not an advantage.\The early response to the programme also offers a glimpse into how Gen Z is approaching career planning. According to the institute’s counselling and admissions interactions, students were less interested in generic course descriptions and more focused on internships, placement pathways and expected compensation. That practical approach stands in contrast to the popular stereotype of Gen Z as directionless or indecisive, and instead suggests a cohort that is actively assessing market realities before committing to a degree path. Among the early applicants are students from different academic backgrounds who see value in blending disciplines. One third-year engineering student, who already had leadership experience outside the classroom, viewed management as a strength worth formalising. A first-year sociology student hoped to connect human behaviour and psychology with management and technology. Another applicant, aiming to take over a family business, saw the degree as a way to gain structured business knowledge while also tapping into the institute’s network.IIT KANPUR'S 6-MONTH ONLINE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMMEThe broader trend extends beyond full-time degree programmes. IIT Kanpur’s six-month online certificate course, scheduled to begin on October 3, 2026, is designed for working professionals who want to strengthen their AI, machine learning and business analytics skills. The programme reflects a growing belief among young professionals that domain knowledge alone is no longer enough, a statement released in this regard said. Instead, they are seeking credentials that help them pair subject expertise with data, automation and decision-making capabilities. Professor Abhinav Tripathi, programme coordinator at IIT Kanpur, said young professionals must augment their domain expertise with AI and machine learning capabilities to innovate, solve complex problems with data-driven insights and lead organisational transformation. The programme includes practical training in Python, R, data visualisation, machine learning and generative AI, underscoring the growing demand for applied, job-relevant learning.Together, these programmes reflect the direction of India’s higher education ecosystem under NEP 2020, which emphasises flexibility, multidisciplinary learning and outcome-oriented pathways. More importantly, they point to a generational shift: Gen Z is not simply choosing between “business” and “tech,” but increasingly looking for ways to combine both in careers that are more resilient to disruption.- EndsPublished By: Mridusmita DekaPublished On: Aug 3, 2026 12:36 IST