The University of Hyderabad’s Golden Jubilee & SMS Silver Jubilee Distinguished Lecture Series featured Prof. Madan Pillutla, Dean of the Indian School of Business, who delivered a thought-provoking lecture on “Bridging India’s Skills and Inclusion Gaps”.
Prof. Pillutla highlighted the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in addressing India’s pressing challenges, including:
– Inequalities in wealth distribution
– Regional divide in growth
– Informal employment
– Rural-urban digital infrastructure divide
– Faculty shortage in rural schools
Key Takeaways from the lecture:
– AI-powered education: Prof. Pillutla emphasized the role of AI in democratizing education and bridging skill gaps through adaptive learning and personalized education.
– AI tutors for reskilling: He suggested that AI tutors can be used for reskilling at scale, addressing the needs of a large and diverse population.
– Language diversity solutions: Apps like Bhashini can help solve language diversity issues, promoting inclusivity and accessibility.
Prof. Pillutla urged educational institutions and teaching communities to undertake research in AI-based education, pedagogy, and tools through industry collaborations and funding. This would enable the development of innovative solutions to address India’s unique challenges.
The lecture sparked an insightful discussion, leaving students with thought-provoking themes on inclusive growth and the role of AI in education and research. Prof. B J Rao, Honourable Vice Chancellor of the University, emphasized the importance of creating wealth and its distribution, while also highlighting the potential of technological growth and advancement.
While Prof. GVRK Acharyulu, Dean School of Management Studies, welcomed the gathering, Prof. Lokanandha Reddy Irala, coordinator -Distinguished Lecture Series, proposed a Vote of thanks.