The curriculum reset coincides with the rise of new AI-native roles that sit between engineering, product and deployment | Photo Credit: bl-online Administrator

India’s upskilling platforms are sharply redesigning their programmes, cutting down time spent on coding fundamentals and embedding AI tools into the core learning journey, as generative AI reshapes both job roles and hiring expectations.

The shift is being driven by rapid improvements in AI models that can now handle tasks that previously required months of training, pushing edtech firms to prioritise applied skills, system design and real-world deployment over syntax-heavy learning.

Shifting Focus

“At a structural level, what used to take six weeks of coding fundamentals can now be done in two weeks with AI-assisted coding,” said Arjun Nair, co-founder and COO at Great Learning. “We have reallocated that time toward higher-order skills such as problem framing, data quality, business context, and outcome interpretation.”

The company has also introduced no-code pathways across programmes, significantly widening its addressable market. “In some programmes, as many as 80 per cent of learners opt for the no-code track,” Nair said, adding that learners from non-technical backgrounds now account for 58 per cent of its user base in FY26, up from 36 per cent in FY24.

Peers are taking a calibrated approach. Newton School said it continues to retain core fundamentals but is integrating AI across the stack. “Roughly 20–30 per cent of time has been reallocated toward AI-first workflows, but always layered on top of strong fundamentals,” said Krishna Choudhury, head of growth at Newton School.

Curriculum Reset

The platform has introduced modules on agentic AI and LLM applications while embedding AI tools directly into assignments and projects. “Concepts like prompt engineering and working with LLM-based applications are now integrated into the core curriculum rather than being taught separately,” Choudhury said.

The curriculum reset coincides with the rise of new AI-native roles that sit between engineering, product and deployment. Among them is Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE), a role gaining traction globally as companies look for talent that can operationalise AI systems at scale.

“Forward Deployed Engineering has emerged as the hottest role in AI globally, yet there was no structured pathway anywhere in the world to prepare engineers for it,” said Raghav Gupta, CEO and founder of Futurense. “We built FDE Academy to address this gap and connect Indian engineering talent with global AI deployment opportunities. This is the future of AI work: engineers who can take systems from prototype to production and own them at scale.”

Shorter Courses

At the same time, programme formats are becoming shorter and more outcome-driven. Great Learning said most new courses are now designed in the three-to-five-month range, with a stronger focus on hands-on learning. “Roughly 70 per cent of learning is now practical application, with the rest focused on conceptual understanding,” Nair said.

Newton School echoed the shift, noting that 70–80 per cent of its programmes are now project-led. “Learners are able to execute ideas much faster… and iterate without being blocked at every step,” Choudhury said.

As enterprises increasingly demand AI-fluent talent across functions—not just engineering—edtech firms are betting that the next wave of growth will come from professionals looking to apply AI within their existing roles, rather than switch careers.

Published on April 29, 2026