Dharwad: Responding to concerns raised by academicians and industry leaders over outdated university syllabi, Karnatak University, Dharwad, has decided to comprehensively revamp its undergraduate and postgraduate curricula to better align with current industry requirements and enhance student employability.Education experts and industrialists have repeatedly highlighted that obsolete syllabi in state universities have widened the gap between academia and industry, contributing to a shortage of skilled professionals and rising unemployment. Addressing these concerns, Karnatak University, the state’s second-oldest university, has announced that artificial intelligence (AI) will be introduced as a compulsory subject across all UG and PG programmes from the 2026–27 academic year.While premier national institutions such as IITs, IIMs and IISc have already begun offering specialised programmes in AI, machine learning and data science, and the govt has launched courses like ‘YUVA AI for ALL’ to promote AI literacy, KU’s move will ensure that students of the university are also equipped to meet future technological challenges.KU vice-chancellor Prof AM Khan told TOI that the revised curriculum will place strong emphasis on practical training alongside theoretical learning to ensure students acquire industry-relevant skills. The decision follows consistent feedback from employers that many graduates lack job-ready competencies.With the new syllabus, the university aims to bridge the academia-industry gap and significantly improve student employability, Prof Khan said.The mandatory AI course will be introduced across all streams and programmes, including BA, BCom, BSc, BCA, BBA, MA, MCom and MSc. Students enrolled in these courses will be required to study AI as part of their curriculum.Highlighting the growing influence of AI across sectors, the VC said the university aims to provide both undergraduate and postgraduate students with a strong foundational understanding of artificial intelligence before they enter the professional world. AI will be mandatory across arts, science and commerce streams.From the next academic year, all colleges affiliated with Karnatak University in Dharwad, Gadag and Uttara Kannada districts will adopt the new AI syllabus.“To facilitate implementation, the university has constituted a Board of Studies (BoS) tasked with designing the AI syllabus. The BoS has been directed to complete the syllabus by June, secure approval from the Academic Council, and ensure rollout from the start of the next academic year,” Prof Khan said. In addition, KU has decided to introduce new postgraduate programmes, including MSc in cyber security and MSc in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AIML). These programmes will focus on hands-on learning through field visits and mandatory project work.Through these initiatives, Karnatak University aims to produce graduates who are professionally competent, industry-ready and confident in facing emerging challenges in their careers.
