Closing the AI skills gap: SAS’ practical approach to talent development

As India positions itself to develop a million AI-ready professionals, universities across the country are accelerating their curriculum, upgrading labs, and partnering with technology leaders. Yet, despite this momentum, a critical gap persists between academic knowledge and industry expectations.

Bhuvan Nijhawan, Senior Director – Education, SAS Asia Pacific, has had a ringside view of this transition. He believes that while universities are laying strong theoretical foundations, the real test begins when students are expected to apply these concepts in live decision environments.

“Students often graduate knowing what AI is but not how AI works in practice,” Nijhawan says. “Enterprises want young professionals who can work with data, interpret AI outputs, and understand how analytics influences everyday operations. Exposure to industry datasets and hands-on workflows is still limited, and that’s where the disconnect lies.”

Closing the Academic–Industry Divide

To address this challenge, SAS built the Data and ...