Symposium on “AI and the Future of Management Education & Practice”
Bangalore
Jan 17, 2026
THE CONTEXT & RATIONALE
The Disruption:
The Velocity of Obsolescence: According to recent industry reports (NASSCOM / WEF), over 40% of core skills required for existing jobs will change by 2026.
The Paradox of Plenty: India produces ~1.5 million engineering graduates annually and nearly 2,40,000 MBA Graduates yet industry employability reports consistently hover below 50% for new-age roles.
The AI Pivot: AI is no longer a vertical but a horizontal. The current academic model treats AI as a specialization, while Industry requires it as a foundational literacy.
Executive Summary
As Bangalore solidifies its status as the "AI Capital of the Global South," the chasm between academic curriculum and industry reality is widening at an unprecedented pace. The arrival of Generative AI has moved the goalposts for employability—what was a "skill" yesterday is a "commodity" today.
The Bangalore Management Association (BMA) proposes a high-impact, half-day symposium to move beyond the fatigue of "discussing the problem" to "engineering the solution." This event is not just a
conversation; it is a strategic intervention designed to form a "BMA Academia-Industry Compact"—a tangible roadmap to align the classroom of 2030 with the boardroom of 2030.
The Opportunity:
Bangalore is unique. It houses the highest density of AI unicorns and toptier educational institutions in India. If the solution to the employability crisis is to be found, it will be found here. BMA, with its legacy since 1953, acts as the neutral, trusted bridge to facilitate this critical handshake.
Event Objectives
De-mystify "Employability": To have industry leaders articulate exactly what "AI-readiness" looks like for a fresh graduate (beyond coding).
Re-imagine Curriculum: To showcase how agile, micro-credentialing models can supplement traditional degrees.
Launch the "BMA Action Pledge": A commitment to specific, low-friction collaborative initiatives (e.g., Faculty Industry Immersions) rather than high-level MOU rhetoric.
Topics for Panel Discussion:
The Classroom of 2030: Is Our Curriculum Surviving the AI Disruption?
How management and technical institutes must move beyond "teaching AI" to "Teaching with AI." Discussing the shift from rote learning to critical thinking and prompt engineering.Hired or Obsolete? Defining the ‘Human-in-the-Loop’ Skill Set.”
Expectations of the Industry leaders : what they look for in fresh graduates now that AI can do the basics. Moving the conversation from "Job Loss" to "Job Evolution."
Program Architecture (Half-Day Format)
Duration: 4 Hours (Morning Session + Networking Lunch)
Target Audience: Head of Academic Institutions / Departments, Directors and Deans of Management Colleges, EdTech Founders, Industry Leaders, HRD Professionals, and Policymakers
Timings & Venue Details:
Date: 17 Jan. 2026
Time: 9:30 am to 01:30 pm
Venue:
Belaku Bhavana, 3rd Floor
BESCOM Corporate Office
Opp. Century Club K R Circle,
Bangalore - 560001
Contact Details:
Manager, BMA || +91 99001 16653 || bmabangalore2023@gmail.com
