By Dr Chenraj Roychand
At a tender age of 18, choosing a degree remains a person’s key turning point in life as it defines majorly the career that they choose for a lifetime. Innumerable entrance examinations to fathom, meeting parents’ expectations, peers comparing university options and an even more baffling range of contemporary courses to select from. Now, artificial intelligence has further become a centrepiece of conversations of everything, and the decision elevates furthermore. The question is no longer simply, “What should I study?” It is also, “Will this degree still matter a few years from now?”
While technology will keep seeing a new iteration year on year, industries will evolve and the new requirements from the industry will replace the skill and practices. The better starting point, hence, is understanding one’s strengths, weaknesses, and interest in pursuing a particular field.
Start with the student, not the course catalogue
Interests and aptitude are often treated as soft considerations when students make academic decisions. But that is merely the truth.
One must know the thin line that exists between being genuinely interested in something and simply liking the idea as a fleeting trend. A student may be interested in technology without being driven by the demands of programming language. Some may enjoy reading literature but not writing. Knowing one’s strengths, work preferences, and the kind of professional life one imagines to sustain over years can strengthen the decision foundationally.
The broad academic streams provide a useful starting point. STEM covers science, technology, engineering and mathematics; commerce and management open routes into business, finance, fintech, etc; humanities connect with subjects like history, psychology, sociology, languages and political science; while design and creative arts provides pathways built around visual thinking, communication and creative practice.
These streams need not be a rigid choice as per the new policy. They are starting points.
AI should be viewed through the lens of a discipline
Artificial intelligence is now finding applications across almost every sector. Its relevance is no longer confined to computer science departments. A marketer may use generative AI for research and content workflows. A designer may work with AI-assisted creative tools. A financial professional may encounter AI in analytics and forecasting. Be it the field of law, medicine, or simply the educational sector, one must understand how technology changes constantly and being an enabler in a new avatar as they pursue their profession.As regards the learning related to AI, It could be related to the development of AI itself or that related to use of AI in changing the social economic sectos.
For an 18-year-old, this distinction is crucial as a fancy standalone AI qualification maynot uniquely provide fundamental abilities to develop AI but provide skills for application in a chosen discipline and learning how AI can be applied within it may create a more meaningful combination.
Build something, don’t just learn the vocabulary
It takes time for one to understand the difference between agentic AI and Generative AI which once learnt can help the individuals use tech to solve problems distinctively.
Students must look for opportunities that focus deeply on practical knowledge. Opportunities wherein one can work on real-life apparatus like a prototype, an automated workflow, AI-assisted solution, etc., adds more to one’s curriculum vitae instead of a certification that may be obsolete in the current times. Internships can provide another layer of practical exposure.
This is increasingly important because employers may eventually want evidence of what a young professional can actually do. A student who can explain the purpose, the journey, and approch to tackle the the real-life problems more than someone who merely completed theoretical coursework.
India, abroad, online or offline? Look beyond the label
The decision about where and how to study deserves the same scrutiny as the degree itself. Studying overseas induces additional largescale expenses including visa, varying academic systems, and queries regarding work opportunities and support. Studying in India furthermore has its own complexities related to institutes, costs, plethora of entrance exams, etc.
The same applies to the offline-versus-online question. Online education turns out to be fruitful for students who deem to pursue additional professional qualifications in line with the degree that they are already pursuing. Onlien option is ideal for those working and who can’t take a break.
A degree can be combined, changed and built upon
There is a tendency to treat an undergraduate choice as irreversible. It rarely is.
A student may complete a BBA and later specialise in law or marketing. Another may study economics and eventually move into data science consulting or finance. Someone from a humanities background may develop technology skills later. Undergraduate education establishes a foundation, but careers are often built through several layers of education, work experience and experimentation.
That does not make the first degree unimportant. A specialised undergraduate foundation can be valuable.
Be realistic about competition and the MBA question
Competitive entrance examinations and intensive coaching programmes can make sense for some students. They can be demanding for others. Families need to look honestly at the student’s academic profile, motivation, preparation requirements and alternatives instead of assuming that the most competitive pathway is automatically the appropriate one.
There is a similar question to ask about the MBA
An MBA should not become a default punctuation mark after graduation. Its value depends on what it adds to an individual’s career, work experience or business ambitions.
Qualification or experience? Know what you are stepping into
In contemporary times, students are pursuing courses that offer practical experience based learning with exposure to real-life business models, projects, mentorship, etc. However, these courses are not an accredited degree.
No program should be judged merely based on what it looks from the outside. Serving different purposes, if a student needs a recognised academic qualification for further study or a particular career path, accreditation matters. If the primary objective is practical exposure, a shorter experiential programme may have a different kind of value.
To summarise, choosing a first degree in the age of AI is more about preparing to adapt to the constantly changing industry and being open to learn continously.
Dr Chenraj Roychand is the Founder Chairman of JAIN Group and the Chancellor of JAIN (Deemed-to-be University).
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETEDUCATION does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETEDUCATION will not be responsible for any damage caused to any person or organisation directly or indirectly.
