Anthony Salcito, General Manager of Enterprise, Coursera As artificial intelligence reshapes industries and job roles worldwide, India’s education system faces a crucial challenge, ensuring that AI skills translate into innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation. In an exclusive interaction with ET Education, Anthony Salcito, General Manager – Enterprise at Coursera, says India already has strong momentum through initiatives such as the IndiaAI Mission and YUVAi – Youth for Unnati and Vikas with AI, but the country must now move beyond skilling to applying these capabilities for real-world innovation. With more than three decades of experience at the intersection of education and technology, Salcito also highlights the growing role of micro-credentials, digital learning, and industry-linked curriculum in preparing India’s young workforce for the future economy.Q. You have spent decades working at the intersection of education and technology. How have you seen EdTech evolve globally, and what is defining the current phase of digital learning?Anthony Salcito: I have spent over 30 years working at the intersection of technology and education, and during that time education has gone through tremendous transformation. Perhaps the most important change has been the growing connection between education and the evolving workplace. This shift existed even before artificial intelligence, but AI is accelerating it dramatically. Workplace transformation is happening globally, but in many ways it is especially significant in India because of the size of its talent pool.By 2047, nearly 20% of the world’s working-age population is expected to live in India, and the country already holds around 16% of the global AI talent pool. That means India is not only being impacted by AI-driven transformation but is also helping drive it.There are estimates that AI could contribute $1.7 trillion to the Indian economy by 2035, which highlights why education must play a central role in preparing students for the future of work.Education systems, from K-12 to higher education, must adapt. Preparing students today is not just about filling existing talent gaps but also about enabling innovation and entrepreneurship that will create entirely new categories of jobs. India’s large workforce can be a huge advantage, but it can also become a challenge if learners are not equipped with the right skills for a technology-driven economy. Q. What major shift are you seeing in how learning is delivered today?Anthony Salcito: One of the most important developments, accelerated during the pandemic, is that learning is no longer confined to the classroom. Education now happens both inside and outside traditional academic spaces. India has an ambitious goal of expanding access to higher education to around 50% of learners. Achieving this will require new approaches because physical capacity, faculty availability, and traditional classroom time alone cannot meet that demand. Digital platforms, micro-credentials, and industry-aligned skill programmes will increasingly complement traditional education models. Students graduating with a degree today also need a commitment to lifelong learning. A four-year degree alone is no longer enough to sustain a 40-year career. Increasingly, we are seeing students build skills portfolios alongside their academic degrees. These portfolios include industry-relevant certifications and specialised training that make them more employable. There has long been a gap between what students learn at universities and what the workplace requires. Bridging that gap is one of the biggest opportunities in modern education.Q. You are also working with institutions such as the IITs and IIMs. What insights have emerged from these collaborations?Anthony Salcito: Premier institutions are increasingly integrating emerging technologies and industry-aligned content into their programmes. The pace of content creation itself is accelerating because technology is evolving so quickly, especially in areas such as generative AI. Another important development is collaboration between academia, industry and government bodies. For example, we recently partnered with NIELIT (National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology) to explore joint initiatives where specialised digital skills content can be delivered to learners across India. Partnerships like these help institutions bring together academic knowledge, industry relevance and technology-driven delivery models. That combination is becoming essential in preparing learners for future careers. Q. Artificial intelligence is reshaping both the workplace and education. How do you see AI influencing the way learning is designed and delivered? Anthony Salcito: One of the biggest promises of AI in education is hyper-personalisation. Personalised learning has long been an aspiration in education technology, but it has been difficult to implement because of limitations around data and adaptability. AI is now making that possible. It allows systems to understand learners’ progress, career aspirations and learning gaps, and then tailor the educational experience accordingly. We will also see greater flexibility in learning formats. Students will increasingly combine classroom learning with digital resources, simulations, and interactive modules from different providers. Another important change will be the rise of AI-powered learning support systems that can guide learners, help reinforce concepts, and recommend additional learning pathways. Together, these developments will make education more adaptive, accessible and responsive to individual needs. Q. India has one of the world’s youngest workforces but also faces a significant skills gap. How can the country address this challenge at scale? Anthony Salcito: There are projections suggesting that India could face a gap of around one million AI-skilled professionals by 2027. That presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The key is scaling skilling initiatives quickly. These skills are not limited to technical abilities like AI or data science; they also include human capabilities such as leadership, critical thinking and decision-making. An interesting example is the work happening through Mission Karmayogi, implemented by Karmayogi Bharat, which focuses on re-skilling India’s civil servants. The programme aims to move government systems from being primarily rule-based to role-based, enabling public officials to become agents of change rather than simply administrators of processes.This type of approach—combining digital skills with leadership and governance capabilities—will also be important for students entering the workforce. Ultimately, the goal should not only be to prepare people for jobs but also to enable them to create new opportunities and industries.Q. What bold step should India take to become a global education hub? Anthony Salcito: The first step is recognising the deep connection between technology skills and the future of work. Jobs are evolving constantly, so education systems must support continuous learning rather than one-time qualifications.India already has strong momentum through initiatives such as the IndiaAI Mission and programmes like YUVAi – Youth for Unnati and Vikas with AI, which introduce students to artificial intelligence concepts.These initiatives show a strong national commitment to AI education. The next step is to convert these skills into innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation. Understanding AI is important, but applying it to solve real-world problems and create new businesses will ultimately drive economic growth.Q. Micro-credentials and short-term certifications are gaining traction. Do you see these becoming mainstream alongside traditional degrees?Anthony Salcito: Traditional university degrees will continue to remain valuable. However, a degree alone is no longer sufficient to guarantee workplace readiness.We are seeing growing acceptance of micro-credentials and industry certifications that complement university education. Many universities are now integrating these credentials within their curriculum or recognising them as part of academic credit systems.Beyond universities, employees across enterprises and governments are also pursuing micro-credentials to stay relevant in rapidly evolving job markets. For today’s workforce, learning will no longer follow the old model of studying for four years and applying that knowledge for forty years. Instead, people will continuously upgrade their skills throughout their careers.Q. Universities are often criticised for being slow to change. What more can they do to prepare graduates for the future job market?Anthony Salcito: It is important to remember that while education systems may appear slow to change, their mission has remained consistent: preparing individuals to contribute to society. Institutions such as universities and healthcare systems move carefully because their responsibilities are significant. However, universities must strengthen the link between education and employability. Preparing students for the workforce means ensuring they graduate with relevant skills aligned with the digital economy.We are already seeing strong examples of this shift. Chandigarh University has partnered with Coursera to equip students with industry-aligned skills at scale, driving 83,000+ GenAI enrollments – the highest for any campus in India. Similarly, Women’s Christian College, Chennai is enhancing employability by enabling its entire ~4,500-student body with Coursera access across traditional undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, spanning disciplines like Physics, Biotechnology, Mathematics, Psychology, Commerce, and English.Beyond skills, institutions should also encourage a mindset of lifelong learning among students. Graduates must develop curiosity and a continuous desire to learn, because skills will evolve throughout their careers. The universities that adapt most effectively will be those that combine strong academic foundations with exposure to emerging technologies and industry-relevant skills. Q. From your global experience, what lessons can emerging economies like India draw to build a future-ready education system?Anthony Salcito: Building a future-ready system starts early. Schools must focus on strong foundational skills, including both technology literacy and human capabilities such as leadership, creativity and decision-making.In a digital economy, human skills become even more important. Another critical factor is valuing educators. The strongest education systems in the world deeply respect teachers and invest in their development.It is easy to criticise education systems for being slow to change, but progress depends on empowering teachers and faculty to adopt new tools and methods with confidence. When educators feel supported and respected, they are far more likely to embrace innovation and help students prepare for the rapidly changing future of work.
Published On Mar 24, 2026 at 07:06 PM IST
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