As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries, workplaces, and education systems worldwide, one question is becoming increasingly important: How can institutions prepare students for an AI-driven future? This critical issue took center stage during the panel discussion on “Developing the AI-Ready Workforce” at the Campus to Career Summit 2026 held on 15-16 May in Bengaluru.
Moderated by Prof Vijaysekhar Chellabonia, Vice Chancellor of JK Lakshmipat University, the session brought together education leaders, industry experts, and technology professionals to explore what it takes to build a workforce capable of thriving in the age of AI.
The discussion moved beyond technical skills and coding expertise, focusing instead on a broader vision of how AI can be used to solve real-world problems, improve communities, and create opportunities for millions of people.
Madan Padaki, Founder, JanAI & Co-Chair, Karnataka Higher Education Vision Group
He urged participants to think beyond the concept of simply making students AI-ready. According to Padaki, the real question is not whether young people can use AI, but what they will do with it. He emphasized that education should ultimately empower individuals to create meaningful change within their communities while also building sustainable livelihoods.
Drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of inclusive development, he described AI as a modern-day “digital charkha” capable of generating prosperity at the grassroots level. He highlighted Karnataka’s recently launched GenAI initiative, under which students from government colleges have been trained in AI fundamentals and sent into local communities to identify real-life problems that can be solved through technology.
More than 150 students from Raichur reportedly engaged with over 4,000 families to understand local challenges and develop AI-based solutions. For Padaki, this represents the true purpose of AI education empowering students to become problem-solvers rather than passive technology users.
Vinay Swamy, Country Head, Pearson India
He highlighted a growing disconnect between industry expectations and workforce readiness. Citing findings from Pearson’s global AI readiness research, Vinay noted that a majority of employers are struggling to find graduates who possess practical AI skills. At the same time, only a small percentage of students believe they are proficient enough to apply AI effectively in professional environments.
According to him, access to AI tools is no longer the challenge. The bigger issue is helping students understand how AI can be applied within specific job roles and industries.
He also stressed the importance of certifications and credentials. While academic degrees remain valuable, employers increasingly seek evidence that candidates can apply their knowledge in real-world situations. He argued that industry-recognized certifications in areas such as AI, cloud computing, and digital technologies can help bridge the gap between education and employment.
Andrea Willmot, Founder and CEO, Athena GESDA (Global Education Strategy and Development Alliance), UK
She argued that the future of higher education must move away from knowledge delivery and focus more on capability development.
She pointed out that information is now readily accessible through technology. As a result, institutions must prioritize skills such as adaptability, communication, problem-solving, and cross-cultural collaboration.
She highlighted Karnataka’s strengths, including its thriving technology ecosystem, strong educational institutions, and ambitious talent pool. However, she stressed that stronger collaboration between industry and academia is essential.
One of her key recommendations was involving employers much earlier in the education cycle. Rather than engaging only during campus recruitment, industries should help co-design curricula, provide experiential learning opportunities, and contribute to skill development initiatives.
She also noted that AI is creating a borderless talent economy. Students today can work for organizations across the world without leaving their home cities. To succeed in such an environment, graduates need global competencies, cultural intelligence, and communication skills alongside technical expertise.
Dr. E.A. Gopalakrishnan, Principal, Amrita School of Computing & AI, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Bengaluru
He focused on how educational institutions can balance AI specialization with broader AI awareness.
He proposed a three-tier approach to AI education. First, every student should develop basic AI literacy, regardless of their discipline. Second, students should learn how AI applies to their specific domains, whether law, healthcare, engineering, or business. Finally, a smaller group of researchers and specialists should receive advanced training in AI development and innovation.
Importantly, he cautioned against neglecting foundational subjects such as mathematics and science in the race to adopt emerging technologies. These core disciplines, he argued, remain critical to understanding and advancing AI.
Reflecting Amrita University’s philosophy, he also emphasized that technology alone is not enough. Future AI professionals must combine technical competence with compassion to ensure they focus on solving meaningful societal problems.
Satya Narayanan R, Chairman, CL Educate
He shifted the discussion toward human capabilities that cannot easily be replicated by machines. He argued that while AI can perform a wide range of tasks, people must develop what he described as “meta skills” to effectively harness its potential. These include critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration, the four skills increasingly recognized as essential in the future workplace.
Comparing AI to a powerful force waiting to be directed, Satyanarayanan suggested that success will depend on individuals who know how to ask the right questions, provide context, and guide AI toward meaningful outcomes.
He also highlighted India’s opportunity to build a digital public infrastructure for education and talent development, similar to the country’s achievements in digital identity and payments systems.
Muralidhar, Founder and CEO, Lodestar
He focused on the role of career guidance in preparing future talent. According to him, many students struggle to make informed decisions about education and careers because they lack clarity about future opportunities. While conversations around AI-related careers are increasing, most students and parents remain uncertain about what lies ahead.
He observed that traditional career choices such as engineering and medicine continue to dominate discussions, but attitudes are gradually changing. Parents are becoming more open to alternative career pathways that emphasize creativity, collaboration, and emerging skills.
He has also proposed the idea of an AI-powered career companion that could guide students from school through early employment, helping them make more informed decisions and reducing uncertainty during critical transition periods.
Pramod Idicula, Director of Enterprise Learning at Adobe
He presented a vision “AI for All” in which he categorized AI users into three groups: those who build AI technologies, those who use AI professionally, and the broader population that benefits from AI-powered services.
For him, the goal should be ensuring that every citizen can engage with AI responsibly and productively. He encouraged universities to focus on three priorities: building strong foundations, integrating AI into everyday learning and work processes, and promoting responsible AI usage.
Drawing lessons from corporate learning environments, he noted that organizations increasingly encourage employees to use AI tools daily while measuring productivity gains and emphasizing ethical implementation
Also Read: Dharmendra Pradhan steps down as Education Minister amid weeks of Student Protests
To Sum It Up
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries and redefine the future of work, the challenge is no longer whether students should learn AI, but how they can use it to create meaningful impact. Throughout the discussion at the Campus to Career (C2C) Summit 2026, speakers emphasized that technical knowledge alone will not be enough. Future professionals will need a combination of AI literacy, critical thinking, adaptability, creativity, and a strong sense of purpose. The conversation made it clear that preparing an AI-ready workforce requires closer collaboration between academia, industry, and government. As institutions rethink learning for the AI era, the insights shared at the Campus to Career Summit 2026 offered a roadmap for transforming today’s learners into tomorrow’s innovators, problem-solvers, and changemakers.
