As companies accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence, universities must move beyond degree-oriented education and equip students with practical skills, adaptability and critical thinking, Johannes Heinlein, Interim President and CEO and Chief Growth Officer of the Project Management Institute (PMI), has said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 18th Project Management South Asia Conference (PMSAC) 2026, Heinlein said the growing disconnect between industry requirements and university curricula was leaving graduates inadequately prepared for the workplace. He called for stronger collaboration between businesses and academic institutions to ensure that education keeps pace with technological change.
“There absolutely is a gap,” Heinlein said, pointing to the reluctance of industry and academia to work together. While employers frequently complain that graduates lack job-ready skills, he said companies must also engage with universities instead of expecting them to produce workplace-ready candidates without industry participation.
Academic institutions, meanwhile, must recognise that the world is changing faster than their curricula. “We’re still stuck in the nineteenth century,” he said, arguing that universities need to update their teaching methods and course content to reflect changing workplace realities.
However, Heinlein cautioned against treating artificial intelligence as a substitute for human judgment. While students must learn to use AI effectively, he said, technology alone would not determine professional success.
“AI is a tool. AI is not a skill,” he said, stressing the importance of adaptability, critical thinking and human engagement in project management. Even as AI becomes more capable, people will remain responsible for interpreting its outputs, making decisions and working together to deliver results.
He also warned against the indiscriminate use of AI-generated content, saying employees sometimes rely on the technology to produce material without applying their own judgment. The challenge, he said, was to use AI to improve productivity without undermining meaningful collaboration and problem-solving.
His remarks came as PMI concluded PMSAC 2026, themed MORE, Together: Future-Ready in the Age of AI. The conference, held at Bhartiya City, brought together 850 delegates and 20 speakers, including project professionals, industry leaders and emerging professionals from across South Asia, to discuss how AI is changing project delivery and organisational leadership.
Amit Goyal, Managing Director of PMI South Asia, said India’s technology ecosystem and ability to adopt and scale emerging technologies positioned it well for future growth. However, he pointed to a gap between AI adoption and its impact on business performance.
Citing McKinsey’s 2025 State of AI report, Goyal said only 39 per cent of organisations reported an enterprise-level impact on earnings before interest and taxes from AI.
“Project success in the AI era will increasingly depend on how effectively organisations combine technology with human judgment, leadership and execution,” Goyal said.
Heinlein said universities could help bridge the skills gap by combining theoretical learning with practical experience. Curricula should be regularly updated, and students should be introduced to project-based learning early in their academic journey.
Describing project management as a life skill rather than merely an execution function, Heinlein said students should learn to plan, collaborate, manage challenges and learn from mistakes. Such abilities, he argued, would remain valuable regardless of how technology evolves.
He also urged India to move beyond its traditional image as an outsourcing destination and take greater ownership of innovation.
“Don’t follow. Lead,” he said, encouraging young Indians to recognise the opportunities emerging in the country.
The conference also featured a conversation between Goyal and bestselling author and columnist Chetan Bhagat on navigating change, leadership and the evolving demands of the professional world. Other speakers included representatives from technology, consulting, healthcare and education, who discussed organisational readiness for AI and the challenges of leading transformation at scale.
