Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. JAMMU: AI is no longer an optional experiment for business leaders. It’s the pressure test separating those who lead sectors from those who get left behind. Central and state governments are pushing hard: under the IndiaAI Mission, initiatives like AIKosha (a sovereign datasets and compute portal) aim to democratise AI infrastructure and subsidise GPU access for innovators. (Source: Times of India)
Meanwhile a recent IBM study finds that 67 % of Indian enterprises plan to appoint Chief AI Officers within two years, signalling how seriously organisations are investing in AI leaders (Source: IBM India News Room). In this climate, tool adoption is table stakes — real differentiation lies in those who can translate AI into strategy, not just capability.
Leaders are expected to integrate AI into strategy, build scalable solutions, and drive transformation at speed. And that speed matters: many senior professionals must acquire these capabilities within months, often while managing high-stakes business responsibilities. However, a frustrating lack of depth in most AI courses and the incredibly fast evolution of technology is a major gap between what industries need and what most programmes offer.
Recognising this, IITM Pravartak, in collaboration with Emeritus, launched the Advanced Certificate Programme in Applied Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. The goal: In just 11 months, equip professionals with the right blend of core technical depth and applied, industry-relevant skills. Led by renowned faculty like C. Chandra Sekhar (former HoD of the CSE Department at IIT Madras), the programme delivers a strong foundational understanding and practical understanding of AI/ML. The structured format is purpose-built for tech leaders who want to upskill without taking a break.
What’s interesting is who’s signing up. A significant majority of learners, nearly 65%, come with 10 to 20+ years of experience, reflecting a growing appetite among senior professionals to stay relevant and lead transformation in their industries. This isn’t just about early-career upskilling; it’s a strategic shift among experienced leaders who want to drive AI adoption, not just follow it.
The programme has also been structured to support this kind of learner profile. It combines flexibility with rigour. Recorded sessions by IIT faculty, live domain expert-led classes, and virtual labs that mirror real-world AI applications.
Key Programme Highlights
- Pre-recorded lectures and select live masterclasses from IIT professors.
- Designed and led by Prof. C. Chandra Sekhar.
- Weekly live interactions and doubt-solving by domain experts.
- 3 IBM Certifications to strengthen professional credibility.
- 25+ Tools and Libraries delivered via integrated virtual labs.
- 30+ Projects and Case Studies based on real-world scenarios.
- Two-week Capstone Project to consolidate learning.
- Optional two-day campus immersion at IIT Madras Research Park.
The response from professionals has been strong and reflective of real impact. “Coming from the manufacturing sector, this programme has been very important in bridging the gap between new technologies like AI and ML and our traditional processes”, shares Shubham Raj Singh, Senior Engineer at Epack Durable Limited.
For Hari Babu, Software Engineer at Bank of America, the programme provided depth where it mattered: “The later sessions with the domain experts hit the mark. The IIT faculty videos are rich in content, and I look forward to interacting more with my cohort in the coming weeks.”
For the faculty, this programme is about more than just skill-building. “Our vision is to enable professionals to build strong AI and ML foundations that remain relevant even as technologies evolve,” says Prof. C. Chandra Sekhar. “By blending academic depth with applied learning, we aim to prepare learners who can lead this transformation, not just adapt to it.”
As the AI market expands and industry timelines tighten, the leaders who will stand out aren’t the ones passively watching the wave — but those commanding the ocean. This programme isn’t just an upskilling opportunity; it’s a strategic accelerator designed to help experienced professionals turn today’s AI disruption into tomorrow’s leadership advantage.