Choosing a University in the Age of AI and Automation

Why Interdisciplinary Beats Narrow Degrees

A traditional degree is like a room with four solid walls. They have a predefined path laid out for students to follow, a selective few courses that students must take to attain their degree and a fixed handful of skills that the institution believes may suit a student of a particular degree. There is no freedom, no hole in the wall, through which students can explore beyond the boundaries of this ‘room’. They have no option of traversing other fields of expertise and thus would not possess the knowledge or the skills to grow and to innovate in a field that they are truly passionate about. 

In the age of AI and automation, where the definition of disciplines is changing, new branches of knowledge are appearing and the role of human beings in each field is growing more uncertain, it is crucial for students to not only develop a fixed set of skills pertaining to a particular field but also to nurture their critical thinking abilities, their potential to innovate and solve real-world problems. This is where the Interdisciplinary truly beats the Traditional. In the modern day, real-world problems can only be solved by crossing domains of knowledge, and innovation can only be found at the crossroads of disciplines. 

An interdisciplinary curriculum allows students to see problems holistically and develop intellectual adaptability. Students are not only expected to identify problems, use the most relevant tools and come up with solutions, but are also encouraged to think of the “what else?” factor. Interdisciplinary students often see the historical background of modern issues and assess the social and cultural dimensions of decision-making. Balancing empirical evidence with qualitative insights is a key aspect of the interdisciplinary curriculum. Additionally, possessing an adaptable mindset that leads students to ask – ‘What framework works best in this situation?’ instead of ‘How do I use this formula?’ – which is crucial for them to navigate the unfamiliar social and professional contexts of the real world and face global challenges head-on.

Most importantly, the interdisciplinary curriculum mirrors how knowledge is actually created. According to Medicci’s effect, true innovation only occurs when ideas and disciplines intersect. Many important breakthroughs, whether in development economics, behavioural science or policy development, emerge at these intersections. Interdisciplinary universities that encourage students to cross boundaries align their educational system with how research, innovation and policy happen in real-world scenarios. 

Beyond the Technology: CS + Humanities + Policy

With the onset of the age of AI, many believe that having exceptional technical skills is the only way to remain relevant, while others believe that technical skills will soon be obsolete, as they are something AI can do better than humans, and instead, we should all focus on developing our critical thinking and soft skills. However, the truth is that the future does not only belong to the coders or the ones with soft skills, but to those who know how to ask the right questions, questions rooted in ethics, human value and social impact. 

The fields of AI and Automation are technical at their core. Being able to understand the data, analyse it, code and run algorithms are all essential skills that allow students to build and interpret technology instead of simply using it. Taking basic computer science classes related to machine learning, AI, data science, and coding will not only benefit those who are interested in Computer Science but also those who want to venture into research, policy and even entrepreneurship. 

Sampurna Pandey, a third-year Computer Science major at Ashoka University, outlines her perspective on the matter:

“As a Computer Science major with an Economics minor at Ashoka University, I see my education less as technical training and more as preparation for thinking clearly in an age shaped by AI. My coursework forces me to move constantly between building systems and questioning their incentives, between writing models and asking what data means, who it benefits, and how decisions scale. Classes in machine learning, algorithms, and systems give me the computational backbone, while economics sharpens how I reason about markets, risk, behaviour, and policy.

What I value most is that Ashoka refuses to silo these skills. Seminar-style discussions, colloquiums, writing-heavy humanities courses, and research projects push me to articulate technical ideas to non-technical audiences, defend assumptions, and collaborate across disciplines, skills that genuinely matter much more than coding in an AI-driven world. I’ve learned to treat models not as black boxes, but as tools embedded in social and economic contexts. That combination, technical depth, analytical scepticism, and communication, makes me feel genuinely prepared to stay relevant as technology evolves.” 

On the other hand, humanities disciplines, including but not limited to literature, international relations, philosophy and history, help students cultivate critical thinking, empathy and moral reasoning. It allows them to understand what is truly beneficial for the community. Tie this with the technical skills one gains from computer science, and students are already halfway prepared to venture out into the world, one with the presence of AI. This ensures that students do not just understand why technology matters, but also how to apply it in a meaningful way. 

Lastly, policy is an integral aspect of modern society. It shapes the world we live in, just like technology. Policy governs the systems set up around us and is interconnected with not just us, but with the technology we use as well. It shapes regulation, ethical safeguards and access. Students who are well versed in policy, both analysing and implementing them, have the power to dictate how AI, automation and similar technologies can impact societies, from the labour market to human rights. 

At Ashoka University, such a diverse blend is not just encouraged but is upheld by the very educational system our interdisciplinary curriculum follows. We give students the freedom to choose both their academic and professional trajectories and assist them at every step to ensure they can reach their goals. Our system ensures that students not only explore and gain a deep understanding of a variety of subjects, but also can carve out their own place and support their future with AI. 

Future-proof Skills

Now, we know career paths are never linear. One often switches between roles and industries multiple times in one’s life. Additionally, the perceived value of present-day skills is shrinking. With a rapidly changing world, what employers, companies or even admission committees truly seek in students is more than how good a grasp they have on their subject material or skillset. They want to see how fast an individual can learn, adapt and think, and the placement and admission process reflects this very expectation. What is important for students at this stage is to focus on developing “future-proof” skills, i.e. “a combination of adaptable and enduring competencies that ensure long-term employability and relevance in a rapidly evolving job market”. 

Let us explore some of these skills in brief: 

• Cognitive Flexibility: One must develop their capacity to constantly learn, unlearn and relearn as industries continue to evolve and one’s career path changes. They must also learn to draw their own insights from a variety of contexts and mix analytical thinking with creative reasoning to solve problems better.
• Human-centric Soft Skills: This, in my viewpoint, is incredibly essential to have. We must remember that while AI is continuously refined at a rapid pace, it can only ever be capable of optimising processes, and it can never truly replicate human communication, empathy, negotiation, or way of thinking. AI is built to enhance human capabilities, not replace them. Hence, holding onto and refining our soft skills such as creative problem solving, empathy, adaptability and teamwork is important now more than ever.
• Digital/Data literacy: This refers to the ability to understand, interpret and analyse data sets and utilise them to draw insights and make decisions. 
• Lifelong Learning: Future jobs will always require you to grow your skills and knowledge to stay relevant in your chosen field. Being able to evolve with the fast-paced professional and academic landscape will always serve as a competitive advantage for everyone.

‘Future-proof’ skills not only make you more marketable but also make you inherently resilient and confident in your abilities. Afterall, everyone’s goals should not only be to survive, but to thrive in any professional environment.

Ashoka’s Long-Term Relevance

Ashoka’s holistic curriculum is designed to incorporate the usage of these very future-proof skills in day-to-day student life. At Ashoka, students do not just gain knowledge in courses, but through each assignment, class, presentation and workshop, students are pushed to grow and evolve into budding professionals, with a good grasp on theoretical concepts, technical skills, and human-centric abilities. Regardless of one’s major, be it computer science, economics, international relations or psychology, students are always encouraged to forge connections across disciplines and find ways to incorporate knowledge across fields.

The next generation of leaders will not just need technical expertise or a thorough knowledge of their individual fields, but will be required to engage with problems and situations in diverse contexts and find the most effective solution. Ashoka University’s emphasis on interdisciplinary teaching and evaluation methods helps strengthen this tendency in students. For instance, a Global Economy course may require students to present a critical analysis and a proposal on a major macroeconomic topic. This utilises not only economic theory concepts but also nudges students to engage with real-life macroeconomic topics themselves, immerse themselves in research papers and develop the ability to analyse, interpret and give feedback on published papers along with policies they think would solve the real-life problem better. 

Education at Ashoka not only hands you the tools to solve problems, but strives to create a simulation of real-life situations wherein students are to use these tools to arrive at suitable resolutions. Other methods of evaluations often include and are not limited to, on-field work (such as collecting data, observations, interviews), presentations of individual solutions to relevant big shots in the field, writing research papers, proposals and alternative policies to given problems. This all-encompassing education system ensures that students do not simply remain absorbers of knowledge, but the creators of it. Most importantly, the networks students may find here, from partnerships with world-renowned universities, to top-of-the-field faculty and researchers, to giants in the industry, are something that remains a perennial asset in one’s life. It is something that not only enriches an individual but, in the modern age, is something that ensures you remain on top, relevant and impactful in your field. 

After all, what is truly important for us to move forward in this changing world is for us to evolve as the world evolves, to become better and more advanced, not just in technology but in our essence as human beings, in how we do work, in how we think and perceive the society around us and in how we can affect the future of this civilization.

– Written by Soha Brahma, Economics and Finance Major at Ashoka University.