A professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has asked his students to consider how university education could evolve if companies significantly reduce campus hiring over the next five to ten years. Dr Prathosh, a professor at IISc Bengaluru, raised the issue in the context of AI's growing presence in workplaces.
"You already see a lot of layoffs and all that happening and it will eventually happen. I mean it is a matter of time and now companies will not give you jobs, so what would universities do?" he said while addressing students in a classroom.
AI tools are increasingly capable of handling tasks including coding, data analysis, report preparation and research assistance. As companies increasingly rely on such technologies, some responsibilities traditionally assigned to junior employees may no longer require as many people.
"What do we teach in university and does teaching even have a meaning I have no idea," he added.
This could potentially affect campus recruitment, which has traditionally been a key link between higher education and employment in India.
The professor's question raises a straightforward but important issue: if companies stop coming to universities in large numbers to recruit young graduates, what should the fundamental purpose of a university education be?
AI COULD CHANGE ENTRY-LEVEL JOBS
Campus placements generally provide fresh graduates with their first opportunity to enter the professional world. However, if AI enables companies to accomplish the same workload with fewer employees, demand for new recruits could decline in certain sectors.
For example, if AI allows a company to complete work that once required 100 employees with a workforce of just 50, the need to hire graduates at the same level could decrease.
This does not necessarily mean campus placements will vanish. It does, however, raise concerns about how universities should equip students for a job market in which AI may increasingly take over some entry-level responsibilities.
WHAT SHOULD STUDENTS LEARN?
AI is also transforming the kinds of skills students may need to develop.
Previously, students were generally expected to search for information, understand it and apply it to accomplish a task. AI can now assist with several parts of this process.
Students may therefore need to place greater emphasis on asking effective questions, verifying AI-generated responses and applying the information to solve problems. Knowing how and when to use AI could itself become an important part of education.
The growing influence of AI does not necessarily mean university degrees will become less valuable.
Universities offer access to laboratories, professors, research opportunities and collaboration with fellow students. Such experiences can provide learning that extends beyond acquiring information specifically for employment.
However, the role of universities could evolve alongside changes in the workplace.
Rather than being viewed primarily as a route into employment, universities may need to put more emphasis on research, problem-solving, experimentation and helping students learn to work effectively alongside emerging technologies.
For students, the focus could consequently move away from simply asking which degree they possess and towards what they can achieve with that education that AI cannot accomplish independently.
It remains unclear whether campus recruitment will decline substantially over the next five to 10 years. However, the question raised by the IISc professor points to a broader challenge for higher education: if AI transforms how companies operate and recruit, should universities also reconsider what they are preparing students to do?
