CARE Meets Evolving Workforce Demands by Bridging Academic Preparation, Industry Needs

September 10, 2025

Aswathy Venugopal

As industries navigate rapid technological transformation, there is an urgent need for a workforce equipped with technical expertise and the ability to thrive in a constantly evolving landscape. According to the World Economic Forum’s Skills Outlook report (2025), the next five years will demand a sharp rise in technological competencies—particularly in AI, Big data, Cybersecurity, and digital literacy. In parallel, organizations increasingly seek individuals who can think critically, solve complex problems creatively, and adapt swiftly to change. Socio-emotional attributes such as resilience, flexibility, curiosity, and commitment to lifelong learning are becoming just as essential as coding or data analysis.

The Cognizant Academia Research Ecosystem (CARE) is a strategic initiative designed to address the evolving demands of the modern workforce by bridging the gap between academic preparation and industry needs. CARE cultivates a balanced skill set by promoting deep expertise in high-growth areas such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and cybersecurity, while also advancing educational approaches that nurture resilience, curiosity, and lifelong learning.

Aligned with Cognizant’s broader Synapse initiative, CARE drives innovation through collaborative research, skill enhancement, and real-world problem solving. Synapse aims to empower one million individuals by 2026 with future-ready skills, including generative AI, through partnerships with governments, academic institutions, and industry leaders. Together, CARE and Synapse create new pathways for students and professionals to thrive in a rapidly transforming global economy.

This article explores how the CARE program prepares students for the global workforce, with a focus on student learning outcomes and future readiness.

Program overview

Launched in 2022, the CARE program is an extension of Cognizant’s “Ecosystem of Innovation,” encompassing employees and academic partners. The program involves various stakeholders, including Cognizant’s senior delivery leadership, the R&D team in our innovation studio, and the GenC Human Resources team, as well as administrators, faculty, professors, research scholars, and students from participating academic institutions. Initially starting with one engineering college, the program expanded to four more colleges in 2023, reflecting its scalability and adaptability.

The CARE program is meticulously designed to ensure that academic capabilities align with real-world business problems through a collaborative approach. Currently, the CARE program is operational in India and Cognizant is working with universities with foundational research and development capabilities. The program begins with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Cognizant and academic leadership, outlining engagement objectives, goals, and legal modalities, including Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs).

Core teams comprising subject matter experts (SMEs), faculty, and students are identified at Cognizant and the academic institutions. These teams participate in design workshops to identify business problems for innovation, and potential research assets that can be utilized for solution development. Additionally, these workshops help identify the training programs necessary for student skill development across various technologies, processes, and methodologies.

Educational activities and approach

The program emphasizes comprehensive student skilling in both digital technologies and processes. Students develop expertise in digital skills such as Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT). They also gain proficiency in processes and methodologies, including User Interface (UI) design principles, use cases, and business processes. Furthermore, students are exposed to futuristic technologies like brain-computer interfaces, robotics, and advanced tech gadgets such as Microsoft HoloLens, Vuzix smart glasses, collaborative robots (cobots), and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs). Components of the program include:

The innovation journey involves students and faculty working alongside Cognizant teams in an Innovation Studio, following a Product-Oriented Development (POD)-based model. A POD-based development model combines students and Cognizant SMEs in smaller groups that can work on an idea autonomously. This model encompasses stages such as problem definition and detailing, solution whiteboarding, POD team setup (comprising students and Cognizant SMEs), development, and solution incubation and business validation. This hands-on approach ensures that students gain practical insights into industry processes and methodologies, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
Faculty members are also enabled through exposure to industrial methodologies and nuances. They learn and apply these insights to help their own teams, getting involved in industrial projects and enabling more students under their guidance.
Students present their developed solutions to Cognizant business leaders for validation and demos. They also have the opportunity to showcase their solutions to customers’ C-suite executives and industry entities such NASSCOM (a trade association for the Indian IT industry). This exposure helps students understand industry expectations, receive valuable feedback, and build professional networks, preparing them for successful careers in a globalized industry landscape.
The program concludes with Cognizant certificates, felicitations, and honors, celebrating the achievements of students, faculty, and the Cognizant SMEs.

Outcomes and impact

The CARE program has trained over 100 students in industrial innovation and digital skills, significantly enhancing their employability. Many students have secured positions in leading technology firms and startups. Alumni of the CARE program have demonstrated impressive career trajectories, leveraging the skills and experiences gained through the program to advance in their careers.

Graduates have reported increased confidence and competence in their professional abilities, attributing their success to the comprehensive training provided by the CARE program. The cascading impact includes students helping their peers understand industry practices. Exposure to multiple use cases has helped students understand prototype development and presentation/articulation of the prototypes. Additionally, the program has provided an understanding of industry-specific technologies relevant to non-tech industries such as manufacturing, energy, and retail, which are undergoing digital transformation.

“Through the CARE program, I gained a range of skills and knowledge that will shape my career. I developed a deep understanding of advanced AI/ML models, such as GAN and LLMs, enhancing my technical expertise. I also learned about data preprocessing, visualization techniques, and cloud computing, which are essential in today’s tech landscape. The program taught me to integrate technical solutions with business perspectives, improving my strategic thinking.”

— Student 1

“CARE has provided a comprehensive understanding of the entire lifecycle of solution and prototype building. From the initial ideation phase to the final deployment, I learned how to navigate the software creation process effectively.”

— Student 2

The CARE program also emphasizes the development of critical soft skills. Students enhance their problem-solving abilities, learning to identify, analyze, and solve complex problems. They develop strong collaboration and teamwork skills, working effectively in diverse teams to achieve common goals. The program also fosters adaptability, enabling students to quickly learn and adapt to new technologies and methodologies.

“I have gained project management skills, including planning, executing, and managing projects, as well as time management and resource allocation. Working in multidisciplinary teams has fostered my collaboration and communication skills.”

— Student 3

This comprehensive approach ensures that students are well-prepared to work in diverse, international environments, making them highly attractive to employers and ready to tackle the challenges of the modern workforce.

“...I acquired skills in gathering requirements, understanding key performance indicators (KPIs), and thoroughly comprehending the problem at hand.”

— Student 4

“Interactions with international clientele have refined my prowess in presentation and cross-cultural communication, ensuring my preparedness to lead projects and deliver impactful solutions in my forthcoming professional trajectory.”

— Student 5

Insights and future pathways

The CARE program stays relevant by continuously adapting to changing industry demands. Detailed MoUs and NDAs address student enablement, ensuring clear guidelines and effective collaboration. This adaptability is crucial for maintaining the program’s effectiveness in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

The program ensures a well-rounded education by balancing academic learning with practical experience. Regular communication and coordination between industry and academia are maintained through meetings, progress reviews, and feedback sessions.

Facilitating student access to Cognizant facilities required meticulous planning and coordination. This included ensuring necessary security clearances, providing logistical support, and offering amenities such as cafeteria services. These logistical challenges were addressed through detailed planning and collaboration between Cognizant and academic institutions. Timelines, reviews, and governance structures were established to create flexibility for students and colleges, balancing both academic and research program requirements.

The CARE program exemplifies the power of industry-academia collaboration in nurturing innovation and preparing a global workforce. By providing students with hands-on experience and exposure to cutting-edge technologies, the program enhances their skills and drives industrial innovation. This case study underscores the importance of such collaborations in fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.

Such collaborations are a result of a strong industry-academia ecosystem that Cognizant has built over the years by contributing to colleges in multiple ways, e.g. participating in academic planning meetings, providing input for curricula, interacting with students through in-person and virtual forums, and running campus engagement programs for students and faculty. Programs of this type allow companies to evaluate an academic institution’s interest and appetite for co-developing innovative solutions to enable students for future workforce success.

The success of the CARE program highlights the potential for similar initiatives to transform education and industry. By bridging the gap between academia and industry, these programs create a pipeline of skilled professionals ready to tackle future challenges.

In essence, the CARE program is like giving apples to Newtons, providing eager students with the resources and opportunities they need to research, learn, and innovate. As the global workforce evolves, the importance of such collaborations will only grow, making industry-initiated programs like CARE essential for sustainable development and economic growth.

Reference

World Economic Forum. (2025, January 7). The future of jobs report 2025 . World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025

About the author

Aswathy Venugopal is Head of Campus Recruitment and Relations, India , for Cognizant. In her 20+ years at Cognizant, she has visited over 100 campuses and spearheaded more than 3,000 programs, including student internships, faculty development, higher education initiatives, and hackathons. Her roles have spanned technology, delivery, and corporate functions for Cognizant in India and the US. Email: aswathy.venugopal@cognizant.com.

Photo Credit: Direct_Media from Freerange Stock

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