Scaler Introduces India’s First Undergraduate Program Blending AI, Business, and Startup Building

The Scaler School of Technology (SST) is launching an innovative and transformative four-year (fully-residential) undergraduate degree program combining Artificial Intelligence and business in India. This bachelor's degree program is unique because it will equip students with the necessary skills to succeed in today's constantly evolving entrepreneurial landscape that is driven by technology. This is the first official bachelors degree program in India that combines artificial intelligence (AI) with entrepreneurship, as it contains elements of computer science (CS), product design (PD), and business strategy (BS) in an innovative, hands-on curriculum. One of the most innovative features of this program is that students will launch an AI-driven startup as part of their degree.

Dean of SST, Anshuman Singh, formerly the engineering lead for Facebook Messenger, discussed his rationale for creating this degree and how AI has impacted the way people innovate. According to Singh, the ability to create products using AI has greatly expedited the product development cycle �from months to weeks �making it possible for individuals to develop prototypes at record-breaking speed. In his opinion, today's educational experience needs to be more than just theoretical knowledge (learning theory and reviewing case studies); rather, it needs to allow students to apply their learning in realistic circumstances through the development of products, working with customers to deliver them, and taking responsibility for their results so that they can develop both technical skills and business acumen at once.

Through hands-on experience and strong employer engagement, the program to create a stronger pipeline into the growing tech industry has increased the number of professionals entering the market from a historical low of about 50,000 annually to over 200,000. Many of these professionals have achieved or been promoted in their careers because of the education, training, mentorship and experience they gained through the program. Many of the students have gained valuable work experience while still in school, are building businesses based on their product or service ideas, have developed skills that will help them find employment upon graduation or create jobs for others.

The in-depth experience provided to the students will develop leaders with strong mathematical, technical and problem-solving skills, which will enable them to lead successful teams. The extensive support and mentoring provided by industry partners will enable the students to become highly successful leaders within their organizations, as well as entrepreneurs. An estimated $4 billion will be poured into the development of the next generation of entrepreneurs in the next five to ten years.

Graduates of this program will have the wherewithal, experience and skills to create businesses in the areas of finance, healthcare, entertainment, construction, education and government. Current students have started companies or are working on product or service concepts at an early stage. The number of successful entrepreneurs and leaders continues to grow each year, providing an ever-increasing pool of talent to support the development of new industries and businesses. All students will gain an understanding of the business side of entrepreneurship.

This program has created a gap between the number of new entrepreneurs versus those who are already established. By the end of 2009, this gap will be filled. Through continued investment, innovation and commitment to creating new technologies that better serve our communities and create new career opportunities, this gap will continue to narrow.