Deloitte today announced a strategic collaboration with IIT Roorkee to deliver rigorous, immersive programmes in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) that are designed to build the next generation workforce.
The number of workers in India requiring digital skills including AI will need to increase 9X by 2025. AI is the only digital domain expected to grow at >35% CAGR across all job titles in India2. This partnership aims to revolutionise how organisations and academia work together to bridge the AI talent gap and develop future leaders with a higher level of AI proficiency. The collaboration with IIT Roorkee aligns with the Digital India vision of the Government of India aiming for a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
The talent gap has been an area of concern identified by Deloitte’s recently released Campus and Workforce Trends Survey. The results showed a growing demand for certain skills in the market, such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA), ML, and AI, but that campuses still lack these skills at the time of demand. Introduction of new skills in the campus curriculum typically happens one year after an increase in demand across organisations for that specific skill, however, the demand tends to diminish dramatically post three years, leading to talent demand and supply mismatch.
The collaboration between Deloitte and IIT Roorkee, ideated further to the findings identified in the above mentioned survey, will focus on implementing a prioritised set of initiatives to bridge the gap in the AI space. The two organisations will:
- Design and deliver AI and machine learning certification courses to educate Deloitte practitioners via the Deloitte AI Academy™
- Offer a work-study program for IIT Roorkee scholars and students to work on AI projects with Deloitte. Also, Deloitte will provide fellowships for doctoral research on AI and Advanced Analytics
- Promote AI fluency for aspiring students and the community at large with online learning courses thus enabling digital empowerment of citizens and talent pools
“Deloitte is committed to developing new talent with the right skillsets to deliver on the benefits of AI for business and all of society,” said Jason Girzadas, Managing Principal, Businesses, Global and Strategic Services, Deloitte. “As we look to facilitate our clients’ journeys to becoming AI-fueled organizations, the collaboration with IIT Roorkee will educate future business leaders, instilling AI proficiency designed to broaden the pool of business-ready, AI talent.”
While highlighting the importance of the collaboration with Deloitte, Prof. Ajit K. Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee, said, “The coming together of IIT Roorkee and Deloitte will create new opportunities for both of us. In fact, this partnership has the potential to strengthen the AI roadmap of India.”.
Deloitte’s collaboration with IIT Roorkee brings together in-depth business knowledge, mastery of technology and the rigor of academics to provide practitioners with an immersive learning experience that will accelerate their careers and help them thrive in the increasingly dynamic AI market.
