Rutgers Business School, aiming to stay on top of all things AI, on Thursday announced details of a new partnership with Google Public Sector and Slalom to provide its students and educators with the ability to experience the power of generative AI in the classroom.
The collaboration will provide students and faculty access to Google Cloud AI, a single place to discover, customize, and deploy more than 150 foundation models from Google and its partners such as Meta’s Llama, Anthropic’s Claude and Google’s Gemini.
At the same time, RBS Dean Lei Lei said Rutgers is introducing a revamped curricula to its business school students across various disciplines – including accounting, marketing, and supply chain management – to ensure that they are gaining the knowledge necessary to thrive in a rapidly evolving job market shaped by AI.
“The fast advancement of technologies has fundamentally shifted the landscape of the business world and is making a transformative impact across industries,” she said. “As a large public business school, our ambition is to prepare graduates with the skills and talent most in demand by industry.
“Today, that requires revamping the learning experience, creating innovative and disruptive content, to ensure that our students gain a strong understanding of the emerging technologies, including AI, that companies are eager to use.”
Here’s are some of the initiatives:
- New MBA Concentration in AI: Launching in Spring 2025, the MBA concentration will feature courses such as Introduction to AI, Leading with AI-Strategies for Business Management, Data Mining, and Algorithmic Machine Learning;
- Master of Accountancy in Accounting and Analytics: This program will offer a specialization in AI, equipping students with robust analytical skills. Its curricula will be powered by some of the advanced AI coursework taught in the Rutgers Master of Information Technology and Analytics program;
- Undergraduate Integration: AI concepts and tools will be integrated into core undergraduate business courses, ensuring that all students gain a foundational understanding of AI.
Rutgers Business School has a long history of AI research, with faculty such as professor Jaideep Vaidya, director of the Rutgers Institute for Data Science, Learning and Applications who is recognized internationally for his work in data security, data mining and AI, and Professor Miklos Vasarhelyi, who pioneered the application of AI in the accounting industry.
Rutgers officials feel the partnership with Google Public Sector will build on this legacy and positions Rutgers Business School at the forefront of AI education.
President Jonathan Holloway said he is hopeful that the initiative by Rutgers Business School reflects the university’s commitment to being a national leader in better understanding AI and its applications in industry.
“Rutgers University is positioning itself as an innovator in these revolutionary technologies by producing ground-breaking insights and educating students in AI’s useful applications,” he said.
Brent Mitchell, vice president of Go-to-Market, Google Public Sector, said the company is all in on arrangement with Rugers.
“At Google Public Sector, we’re committed to empowering the next generation of leaders with the responsible AI tools they need to succeed, as well as advancing education for everyone,” he said. “Our collaboration with Rutgers, the first public business school to adopt Gemini, prioritizes student data privacy and ethical considerations, allowing educators to confidently bring cutting-edge AI into their classrooms.”
