Machine learning, artificial intelligence, computer programming, and deep learning have become the top online courses taken up by Indians, according to a report by an online learning platform, Coursera. About 10.6 million Indians have registered on the platform to date, falling behind only the United States. The findings come at a time when online learning has taken over traditional classroom lessons.
Other popular courses include Javascript, blockchain, the Internet of things, web development, and C programming. These courses are also popular in other countries such as Germany, Russia, China, Australia, and Saudi Arabia. India ranked 67th among 104 nations in terms of digital skills. It placed ahead of Myanmar, Uzbekistan, and Bhutan, but could not match countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan, indicating a lack of digital and data skills, as per media reports.
The report noted that digital skills have become important today especially to stay redundant at a time when technology is powering most industries. The pandemic also displaced millions of workers worldwide. India showed a 38% proficiency in technology and data science, falling behind countries including the Republic of Korea, Nepal, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. It showed 13% proficiency in computer programming, 14% in mobile development, and 25% in data analysis. The pace of skills transformation is slower than the pace of digital transformation in India and learners must invest in soft and technical skills to prepare for jobs of the future, the report added.
Earlier this month, OpenGov Asia reported that the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi (IIT-Mandi) and online learning solution provider WileyNXT have collaborated to launch post-graduate certification programmes in applied artificial intelligence/machine learning and full-stack development. The curriculum was designed to bridge the skill gap and prepare a workforce for the future.
The Institute also plans to host a six-day weekend workshop on a Deep Learning crash course for executives and working professionals. The workshop will be held between 3 July and 18 July. It will cover extensive theory sessions and lab sessions scheduled every weekend. An assessment will be done at the end of the workshop, and based on this assessment, certificates will be provided to participants. During laboratory sessions, support will be provided by specifically trained teaching assistants. The workshop mainly targets software engineers and executives. A basic understanding of linear algebra, Python, machine learning, and probability theory is expected as a prerequisite for the event.
More recently, the International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIITH) announced the launch of a 50-week foundation course in Modern Machine Learning for engineering students. The online course is open to undergraduate engineering students who are in their third or fourth year pursuing a programme in computer science or information technology, electronics engineering, electrical engineering. or other allied branches from any technical institution. These students need to be nominated by their respective colleges through the faculty members.
A representative noted that because IIITH has the largest AI/ML academic lab in the country, it started this course to enable students from other colleges to gain from the Institute’s expertise should they choose to specialise in machine learning in the future.
A recent report noted that the global machine learning market size is projected to reach US$152 billion in 2028. The market stood at US$11.3 billion in 2020. It is expected to project a CAGR of 38.6% during the forecast period.