SAS Academy trains Indian workforce as GenAI demand outpaces 1 M‑plus skill gap
SAS Academy for Data & AI Excellence has rolled out a series of bootcamps, certifications and on‑the‑job placements aimed squarely at India’s burgeoning generative‑AI market. Companies across fintech, health tech and manufacturing are already piloting large‑scale models, and the speed of those pilots is outstripping the pool of professionals who can build, fine‑tune and govern them. The academy’s curriculum, which blends theory with live‑project work, promises to shave months off the traditional learning curve.
But the urgency isn’t just about keeping pace with new tools; it’s about filling roles that have been empty for years. According to a 2025 report from the India Brand Equity Foundation, the nation needs more than a million data and AI specialists. As firms double down on generative and agentic AI, the gap between demand and certified talent becomes a bottleneck that could slow adoption.
Yet, the country faces a shortage of more than one million skilled professionals in data and AI, according to IBEF's 2025 report titled Future of Data Science and AI in India. As enterprises accelerate the adoption of generative and agentic AI, certified and job-ready talent has become a critical gap in their capabilities. SAS, a global leader in analytics, is addressing this demand by equipping India's workforce with the skills required for modern AI-driven roles.
The SAS Academy for Data & AI Excellence curriculum is designed to help learners move from foundational analytics to advanced AI and automation, guided by SAS-certified instructors through flexible weekend online programs. Bridging India's AI Skills Gap The academy combines conceptual grounding with practical application, ensuring that learners develop job-ready capabilities aligned with industry standards.
The SAS Academy for Data & AI Excellence is stepping into a market that analysts expect to hit $7.8 billion by 2025. Yet more than a million Indian professionals lack the data and AI expertise needed, according to IBEF’s 2025 report. As companies rush to deploy generative and agentic AI, the shortage of certified, job‑ready talent has become a bottleneck.
SAS’s training programmes promise to fill that void, offering curricula aligned with enterprise demands. Whether the academy can scale fast enough to meet the projected demand remains uncertain. The initiative does provide a structured path for learners, from foundational modules to advanced certifications.
However, the report doesn’t detail how many participants will actually enter the workforce or how quickly employers will recognize the credentials. If the gap narrows, India’s AI market could grow as forecast. Until measurable outcomes appear, the effectiveness of SAS’s effort will be judged on placement rates and industry adoption, not just enrollment numbers.
Further Reading
- SAS Launches Academy to Combat AI Skills Shortage in India - TechGig
- Applied Data Engineering for Generative & Agentic AI Systems - Aspire IT
- Papers with Code - Latest NLP Research - Papers with Code
- Hugging Face Daily Papers - Hugging Face
- ArXiv CS.CL (Computation and Language) - ArXiv
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Common Questions Answered
What types of training does SAS Academy for Data & AI Excellence offer to address India's generative‑AI skill gap?
SAS Academy provides a series of bootcamps, professional certifications, and on‑the‑job placement programs. These initiatives blend theoretical instruction with live‑project work to quickly prepare candidates for roles in building, fine‑tuning, and governing generative‑AI models.
According to the IBEF 2025 report, how large is the shortage of data and AI professionals in India?
The IBEF 2025 report titled "Future of Data Science and AI in India" estimates a shortage of more than one million skilled professionals. This gap is becoming a critical bottleneck as enterprises accelerate the adoption of generative and agentic AI technologies.
Which industry sectors are currently piloting large‑scale generative‑AI models in India, and how does this affect talent demand?
Fintech, health‑tech, and manufacturing companies are actively piloting large‑scale generative‑AI models. Their rapid deployment outpaces the available talent pool, intensifying the need for certified, job‑ready professionals trained by programs like SAS Academy.
What market size is projected for India's generative‑AI sector by 2025, and how does SAS Academy aim to capitalize on this growth?
Analysts expect India's generative‑AI market to reach $7.8 billion by 2025. SAS Academy aims to capitalize on this expansion by scaling its training curricula to match enterprise demand, thereby filling the talent void and supporting industry growth.