With AI and data science (DS) becoming part of every industry segment, there is a growing demand for management graduates with expertise in these fields. To meet this, the Manipal-based TA Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) will be launching an MBA programme in AI and DS from the academic year 2025-26.

Rajeev Kumra, TAPMI Director, told bloncampus that TAPMI’s MBA (AI and DS) represents a pivotal advancement in management education and aligns well with its vision of fostering transformative leaders by integrating business management principles with cutting-edge technological frameworks. This programme is designed to equip future leaders with the skills to leverage AI and data-driven insights, enabling impactful decision making.

Gaurav Sarin, Chairperson of the programme, said the need for MBA graduates with expertise in AI and DS in India is markedly increasing. By 2025, the employment rate of Indian business administration graduates increased to roughly 78 per cent, a rise from 47 per cent in 2021. These people are joining several sectors, including banking, healthcare, technology and retail. They are assuming positions such as data scientist, machine learning specialist and chief data officer.

Stating that compensation for these roles fluctuates according to experience and complexity, he said DS specialists in India receive decent yearly salary ranges. These graduates enhance value by connecting technical and business sectors, utilising data-driven techniques to foster innovation and sustain a competitive advantage, he said.

Who is it for

He said the programme is also well-suited for individuals with a strong interest in AI and DS, even if their prior exposure to the domain is limited. Blending technical expertise with strategic thinking is key to success in this programme. Asked how the programme plans to bridge the technical knowledge gap for the candidates having non-technical degree background, Sarin said analytical and critical thinking skills are essential to succeed in this programme.

“We judge the prospective students based on several pertinent parameters. To bridge the technical knowledge gap, TAPMI has collaborated with Manipal School of Information Sciences to offer this programme. The first-year courses are common for all the students, hence strong business foundations are laid from the very beginning,” he said.

To a query on how the curriculum remains updated considering the rapid developments in AI and DS, he said MBA programmes employ a dynamic and adaptable approach to ensure the curriculum remains current with the swift advancements in AI and DS. This encompasses routine industry consultations with AI and DS specialists, collaborations with technology firms and curriculum evaluations every six to 12 months.

Programmes use the newest breakthroughs in AI. Live case studies, practical capstone projects, guest lectures and hackathons ensure students remain attuned to industry requirements. Access to cloud platforms, open-source AI tools and research-oriented electives guarantee that students are educated in advanced technologies and approaches.

The MAHE ecosystem

On the participation of industry practitioners in this programme, he said Microsoft India and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) have formed a cooperation at the university level.

The Digital and Infrastructure Team of MAHE convened with Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, during his recent visit to New Delhi. The objective of this gathering was to deliberate on the forthcoming course of action.

TAPMI will significantly leverage the partnership across the broader MAHE ecosystem. It will utilise the Microsoft Cloud platform and Azure AI and DS methodologies and frameworks to train students and offer specialised classes during their second year of electives, he said.

This programme incorporates descriptive, predictive, prescriptive and inferential analytics into the curricula via case studies, simulations and practical projects.

Asked how TAPMI sees this programme evolving in the next five-10 years and the changes it anticipates in curriculum or structure, Sarin said AI and DS programmes will advance through enhanced industry integration, transdisciplinary applications and a pronounced emphasis on ethics and governance. Experiential learning via practical projects, AI-enhanced education and open-source cooperation will be paramount.

“With the simplification of implementation through AI technologies, the curriculum will prioritise strategic deployment rather than coding. Emerging domains such as quantum computing, edge AI and AI for sustainability will attain significance. Moreover, adaptable, modular and competency-based educational frameworks will supplant inflexible degree programmes, guaranteeing conformity with industry requirements,” he added.

Published on March 17, 2025