Strategic Applied AI for HR Leaders

AI is reshaping how organisations work, decide and lead, but its most significant impact will be felt through people. For HR leaders, the imperative is not merely to adopt new technologies, but to guide organisations through the behavioural, ethical and strategic shifts they create.

The Strategic Applied AI for HR Leaders programme from Educational Outreach, IIT Bombay is a strategic, application-oriented programme for senior HR leaders. It is built for those who want to understand how AI is transforming HR processes, organisational architecture, workforce decisions and the future role of the HR function.

Through faculty-led learning, applied simulations and industry perspectives, participants develop the strategic judgement to lead responsible, human-centred AI transformation within their organisations. The programme is delivered as live online sessions with two campus immersions at IIT Bombay, and it is facilitated by Prof. Soumya Rajan of SJM School of Management, IIT Bombay.

Deloitte’s 2026 Global Human Capital Trends report found that 66% of C-suite leaders say functions like HR, finance and IT must fundamentally change because of AI, yet only 7% report making meaningful progress. This programme prepares HR leaders to lead that change from the centre of the organisation, not the sidelines.

Eligibility Criteria

• Preferred: Minimum 10 years of work experience
• Candidates with 8 to 9 years of experience may be considered selectively, based on:
  1. Seniority of role
  2. Scope of responsibility
  3. Demonstrated exposure to strategic HR or organisational decisions

• Primary requirement: Strategic, managerial or decision-making responsibility within HR
• Technical background, coding knowledge and engineering/technology education: Not required

Who Should Attend?

• Senior HR managers and HR leaders
• HR Heads and functional HR leaders
• HR Business Partners
• Learning and Development Heads
• GCC HR leaders
• Talent, culture, performance and people-function leaders
• HR transformation and organisation-design professionals
• Senior professionals aspiring to CHRO roles
• HR leaders in startups and mid-sized organisations who may operate as de facto CHROs

Attendance:

• A minimum attendance of 80% is mandatory.

Assessment:

• Case Analysis 1: Weightage – 30%
• Case Analysis 2: Weightage – 30%
• Individual Strategic Recommendation: Weightage – 25% 
• Online Knowledge Checks: Weightage – 15%
• Individual Capstone Project (Optional): Participants apply programme learning to an HR or organisational context. Outputs may include an AI-in-HR transformation roadmap, organisational readiness assessment, HR process redesign proposal, governance framework or strategic recommendation.
• Additional assessment factors include proctored quizzes and knowledge checks, short puzzles or application-based exercises, theme-based assignments and optional participant presentations.
• Capstone presentations at the closing campus immersion will not be considered for the assessment.

Mode of Engagement

• Live online sessions with 2 campus immersions, one at the beginning and one at the end of the programme
• Total learning of 55.5 hours (39 hours online and 16.5 hours campus immersion), across approximately 12 to 13 instructional sessions

Class Schedule

• Sundays: One 3-hour session, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
• Weekly Commitment: 3 Hours
• Programme Duration: 5 Months

Campus Immersion (Mandatory)

• Opening Campus Immersion: 5th & 6th February 2027 (1½ Days). Programme orientation, foundational strategic frameworks, faculty interaction and cohort building. Participants arrive on campus on Friday in the second half of the day.
• Closing Campus Immersion & Valediction: 16th & 17th July 2027 (1½ Days). Capstone presentations, group case presentations, synthesis sessions, networking and valedictory activities.
• Both campus immersions are mandatory. Session recordings are provided only at the discretion of the faculty.

Programme Timeline

• End January (30th January 2027), Technical Orientation: Familiarise yourself with the learning platform, programme processes and virtual-session protocols.
• First Week of February (5th & 6th February 2027), Academic Orientation & First Campus Immersion: Meet faculty and cohort, and understand the academic framework, learning expectations, assessments and the strategic context of AI-enabled HR transformation.
• 14th February 2027, First Platform Class: Live online sessions begin on the Jaro platform.
• Third Week of February to Mid-May, Regular Online Academic Delivery: Core faculty-led sessions on AI and the future of work, behavioural responses, algorithmic management, human capabilities, AI in HR processes, leadership, culture, wellbeing and responsible AI integration.
• March to Mid-May, Applied Learning & Strategic Integration: Workshops, simulations, peer discussion and capstone-related work alongside academic sessions.
• May to June, Industry Masterclasses & Alternative Learning Engagements: Three industry masterclasses with senior practitioners, along with limited alternative sessions, peer exchanges, capstone guidance and synthesis activities.
• June to Early July, Capstone Submission & Assessment Preparation: Submit your individual strategic integration assignment or AI transformation roadmap, and prepare for final presentations.
• Mid-July (16th & 17th July 2027), Final Campus Immersion: Capstone presentations, academic synthesis, industry interaction, peer networking, valedictory and certificate distribution, subject to attendance and assessment requirements.

Educational Outreach (EO) at IIT Bombay is dedicated to meeting the knowledge enhancement and upskilling needs of professionals in industry, academia and government, empowering them to excel and adapt in a changing world. Participants also gain access to IIT Bombay’s cutting-edge research and resources across a wide range of domains.

EO has upskilled 35,000+ professionals, delivered 800+ programmes, covered 100+ learning disciplines, and partnered with 300+ corporate and government organisations, reflecting its continued commitment to lifelong learning and professional development.

The programme adopts a senior-leader-oriented learning approach, combining:

Participants of the programme receive the following