SP Jain: We Know What Employers Want. Here’s How We Plan To Deliver It

In an era defined by rapid technological disruption and shifting employer expectations, universities are under pressure to evolve.

At the SP Jain London School of Management, they’ve done just that. Gaurav Jain, the director of business development, believes the answer lies in agility, global immersion, and a reimagined approach to learning. “We’ve done significant work in improving the quality of education for our students — getting them job-ready, future-ready, and prepared to take on the world after graduation,” he says.

What truly sets the SP Jain London School of Management apart, Jain adds, is the mobility built into its programs.

“A student in our undergraduate program can start in Singapore, go to Dubai, then do an exchange to London or Sydney. In four years, they can experience four different cities in four different countries. That creates a profound impact on their education.”

RETHINKING THE CLASSROOM WITH AI TUTORS

The SP Jain School of Global Management was founded in Dubai in 2004 with a simple but prescient philosophy: if business has gone global, business schools must follow suit. Since then, the institution has expanded to Singapore, Sydney, Mumbai, and, most recently, London in 2023.

The London campus is unique in that it awards British degrees, while the other campuses award Australian qualifications. The group also operates in San Jose, California, under California Miramar University.

SP Jain has reimagined its teaching approach in recent years. “Gone are the days when a professor walked into a classroom, lectured for ninety minutes, and maybe took a question at the end,” Jain says.

Instead, students now engage with the school’s AI tutor — a video-based interface that reinforces classroom learning through interactive assessments. “When a student goes home after a class on cost accounting, they can continue learning the content with their AI tutor. It asks questions, they answer, then it scores them and keeps pushing their knowledge forward,” Jain explains.

The system not only reinforces course content but also levels the playing field. “It democratizes knowledge,” he says. “Students come in with different backgrounds, and this helps them catch up and engage meaningfully in class.” By the next session, students are up to speed, creating a more participatory learning environment.

WHAT EMPLOYERS ACTUALLY WANT

Jain regularly organizes industry visits to companies like Deliveroo, Salesforce, Turo, and OMD Marketing. He always asks: What do you look for in recent graduates?

“Almost all of them say the same thing,” he notes. “In the age of AI, students must be able to learn quickly, adapt, and communicate effectively with their teams.”

Technical skills are easy to find in graduates. What distinguishes high performers in the job market, Jain says, is initiative and influence. “You have to be able to join a team, communicate your ideas, and pull others into adapting to the change that’s happening. That’s what separates someone who has skills from someone who can actually make a difference.”

And yes, employers want people in the office. “No work from home,” Jain adds. “Employers want to get teams together to work together and build together.”

CURRICULUM BUILT WITH INDUSTRY FOR INDUSTRY

At the SP Jain London School of Management, the curriculum is shaped by an industry advisory board that includes professionals from KPMG, Genpact, and several startup founders.

“They look at what they’d like to see in a graduate, and then we build what’s necessary to teach those skills into the curriculum,” Jain says. Much of the emphasis is on soft skills, taught through presentations, project work, and experiential learning rather than traditional exams.

The school has also introduced new AI modules in its master’s programs and a specialization for undergraduates. “The curriculum is constantly adapting,” Jain explains. Students explore the inner workings of AI and hear from employees at companies like Salesforce and Turo who explain how AI is reshaping their work in real time.

“The curriculum itself can’t adapt to real-time developments — it needs to be vetted and approved — but these visits give students insider knowledge that’s invaluable,” he says.

THE HUMAN ADVANTAGE

From day one, SP Jain students are encouraged to think about their careers.

Orientation includes a session on job paths, and by graduation, they’ve seen the inside of multiple industries. “Ninety percent of companies are using AI ineffectively,” Jain says. “These companies are looking for students who can come to them with energy, knowledge, and the ability to learn quickly.” Graduates often help companies rethink their data sourcing and analysis. “They don’t expect grads to have all the answers, but they do expect them to have initiative, intellect, and adaptability.”

“I always ask students — what can AI not do?” Jain adds. While technical proficiency opens doors, it’s soft skills that drive impact. That’s something AI can’t yet replicate. “We want our students to develop into holistic, well-rounded individuals who can connect with others — who understand different cultures.”

That’s why SP Jain students take cultural trips during their time at the school, from dragon boat racing in Singapore to surfing in Australia and museum-hopping in London.

“These experiences give them real perspective and allow them to connect with business leaders on a more personal level,” Jain says.

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