From Editorial Board
Dr. Neharika Srivastava
Ph.D., Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra Ranchi, Director, Global R-Hub
Looking back at 2025 and 2026, things have changed a lot in how we think about learning and jobs. As AI is coming into picture, it is everywhere now, not just some future thing. It is helping out in schools and at work, like with those adaptive platforms that adjust to what you are doing. I mean, it is making knowledge feel more hands on, how we build it and use it in real ways and genuine knowledge creation skills have become the need of the hour and automating stuff for analysing data too skills stand out.
Work is shifting in ways that feel kind of unpredictable and unimaginable. People are moving away from straight line careers into these portfolio ones, where you juggle projects and mix skills and create your own knowledge by blending technical, creative and analytical skills together. Employers seem to care more about solving problems and thinking through evidence, not just knowing facts by heart.
Education budgets are getting adjusted, and I think that is a big deal. Emphasis has been given to invest less money on brick-and-mortar buildings and more on tools and skills that help with deinitialization. This shift signals important recognition: future readiness is less about static knowledge and more about adaptability, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary understanding.
So, what does all this mean? Whether you’re a student or a professional, it pays to keep learning, unlearning, and relearning. Schools and workplaces need to ditch the old blueprints and build spaces where people can ask questions, test out ideas, and innovate.
As we reflect on 2025 – 2026, one thing is clear, the convergence of AI, education reform, and workforce transformation is not a disruption to manage, but an opportunity to lead. In the sections that follow, we explore some of the most significant global shifts, emerging innovations, and research contributions that defined this transformative year.
Big Global News
1. India’s Budget Signals a Shift: AI Education Becomes National Priority
India announced a ₹500 crore Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence in Education aimed at transforming learning through adaptive systems, intelligent tutoring, and AI driven pedagogy. This initiative positions AI as core academic infrastructure supporting personalized learning, AI enabled assessments, and future workforce readiness.
Source: IndiaAI Official Announcement
2. Skills and Not Degrees Define the Future of Work
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 estimates that 39% of workers’ core skills will change by 2030, highlighting the accelerating impact of AI and technological transformation on global employment.
Source: World Economic Forum Report
3. Google DeepMind Expands AI Access to Millions of Students in India
Google DeepMind announced a collaboration with the Government of India to introduce advanced AI tools across 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs, reaching nearly 11 million students nationwide. The initiative brings generative AI capabilities directly into school innovation ecosystems to support experimentation and problem-solving. Announced at the India AI Impact Summit, the partnership aims to strengthen AI education alongside national skilling efforts. The move reflects how global technology companies are increasingly shaping future learning and workforce readiness.
Source: https://m.economictimes.com/
Expert Mentor’s Corner
By Arun Reddy
M.S. & B.S., Carnegie Mellon University | Co-Founder, Head of Operations, India, Globuslearn Corp.
The past eighteen months have shown that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant idea but has quietly been reshaping how students learn, how institutional marketing, finance, HR Departments recruit and how even young graduates think about work. What stands out is not the speed of technological advancement in AI, but rather in the way it has exposed gaps in how our students in high school or college are equipped with the skills to succeed in the uncertain future job market.
Across education systems, budgets have increasingly leaned towards investing in digital tools and skill-based initiatives and while this may signal progress, it also raises a deeper question: are we investing enough in research thinking and intellectual curiosity? Technology alone cannot replace the process of asking meaningful questions or learning how to interpret evidence. Some classrooms embraced AI as a shortcut whereas others are using it to initiate rigorous discussions about originality, ethics, and the role of human judgment.
The conversation around work has also shifted, it is clear that students today recognise that their career paths will be less linear and more interdisciplinary. For example, medicine intersects with data science, business overlaps with sustainability, and technology influences nearly every field. What many students struggle with is not motivation, but clarity and understanding of which skills will remain relevant as different industries evolve.
This is where research becomes increasingly important, engaging with research forces students to navigate ambiguity, evaluate sources critically, and develop independent perspectives. In a world where AI can generate answers instantly, the real advantage lies in knowing which questions to pursue and how to test ideas responsibly.
Looking back at 2025–26, the biggest takeaway is not that AI is transforming everything overnight but pushing education and work toward a more thoughtful balance between innovation and reflection, reminding us that adaptability, curiosity, and critical thinking will always continue to define meaningful learning.
Impact of Student Research
1. IIT Kharagpur Students Develop AI-Based Crop Disease Detection
Researchers and project students at IIT Kharagpur developed FarmBot, an AI-enabled agricultural robot capable of detecting plant diseases using camera-based image analysis and automatically spraying the required pesticide. The ground-based robotic system enables precise, targeted treatment, helping reduce crop loss and unnecessary chemical usage. Funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the innovation also minimizes farmers’ exposure to harmful pesticides. The patented system represents a significant step toward AI-driven smart farming and automated agricultural practices.
Source: https://www.iitkgpalumnifoundation.in/
2. IIT Indore Researchers Develop High-Accuracy AI System for Early Cancer Detection
Researchers at IIT Indore developed advanced AI algorithms capable of automatically detecting and locating breast and cervical cancers from medical images with accuracy levels reaching the mid-to-high 90% range. The system analyses mammogram and colposcopy images to identify abnormal tissue patterns and assist doctors in early diagnosis. Designed to reduce missed detections, the technology can support screening in regions with limited specialist availability. The research demonstrates how AI-driven medical imaging can improve timely cancer detection and treatment outcomes.
Source: https://www.digitalhealthnews.com/iit-indore
Research Spotlight:
Global R-Hub Student Project!
AI in Vaccine Discovery: A Comparative Study of COVID-19 and HIV
Student: Amishi Gupta | Mentor: Dr. Pooja Bachani, Ph.D. | Global Faculty: Dr. Shivendu S.
This research examines how biotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI) intersect in modern vaccine development. The study compares the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines with the ongoing scientific challenges in developing an HIV vaccine.
The project analyses three major vaccine platforms - mRNA, viral vector, and protein subunit vaccines and evaluates how AI technologies are being used in each stage of development. Key areas explored include:
Predicting viral antigens
Anticipating viral mutations
Improving vaccine formulation strategies
By comparing two global health cases, one with unprecedented vaccine success (COVID-19) and one with continued scientific complexity (HIV), the research highlights how AI tools are helping scientists address immunological and design barriers in vaccine discovery.
The study reflects a broader 2025–26 trend: AI is increasingly being integrated into biomedical research workflows to accelerate drug and vaccine development.
Did you know?
1. AI Tutors Can Improve Learning Outcomes by 30–40%
Students using an AI tutoring system achieved similar or higher test performance while spending about one-third less time completing learning activities compared to traditional active-learning classrooms. This indicates that AI-driven personalized instruction can increase learning efficiency by approximately 30–40% without reducing learning outcomes.
Source: Nature Human Behaviour Study
2. India Among Fastest Growing AI Talent Hubs
India ranks among the top global countries in AI talent growth and workforce expansion according to the Stanford AI Index.
Source: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/
3. 65% of Today’s Students May Work in Jobs That Don’t Yet Exist
The World Economic Forum projects that 65% of children in primary school today will enter future job roles that do not yet exist. As the nature of work transforms, education must evolve accordingly. Integrating adaptability, cross-cultural understanding, and digital fluency into academic learning is essential to prepare future professionals for a rapidly changing global landscape.
Source: https://www.weforum.org/
Global R-Hub Highlights
1. Global Admissions Powered by Research
We are proud to celebrate the global academic achievements of Global R-Hub students whose research journeys have strengthened their university applications and academic profiles.
Student Name: Aryaman Kedia | University: NYU Stern School of Business | Research Paper Title: Evaluating the Impact of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) on the Indian Economy: A Paired Sample Analysis Using Secondary Data
Student Name: Sonam Denzongpa | University: Curtin University, Singapore | Research Paper Title: Evaluating the Impact of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) on the Indian Economy: A Paired Sample Analysis Using Secondary Data
2. Research Milestones Achieved
A Global R-Hub student researcher Siri Vadlamudi has received an official acceptance from the internationally recognized Curieux Academic Journal for research conducted under the Global R-Hub mentorship program.
This achievement marks an important academic milestone, demonstrating how guided research enables students to contribute meaningfully to scholarly discourse while gaining early exposure to global publication standards.
Mentors & Global Faculties:
1. Angana Chakraborty
Data Analyst with Astrophysics Background, University of Amsterdam
Angana Chakraborty is a researcher skilled in astrophysics, AI, and data analytics, with a master’s in physics and Astronomy from the University of Amsterdam. She has worked extensively on gamma-ray burst data analysis and now mentors' students in computational modelling and data-driven research at the intersection of physics and AI
2. Dr. Chinmoy Biswas
Condensed Matter and Material Physics, Senior Research Fellow at University of Hyderabad
Dr. Chinmoy is Ph.D. researcher specializing in spintronics, magnetism, and device fabrication, with a focus on applying AI for materials discovery and device optimization. Passionate about mentoring students to connect fundamental physics, AI, and real-world applications through impactful research.
Stay tuned for our next edition, where we introduce more powerhouse mentors
and global faculty shaping the future of research and innovation!
With every edition, we strive to bring you inspiring stories, impactful insights, and the latest updates from the world of research. Keep innovating, keep growing, and stay tuned for more exciting updates in our next edition!
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