Dr. Uma Gupta, director of the business analytics program at the University of South Carolina Upstate, has been awarded the 2024-25 Fulbright Canada Distinguished Research Chair at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada.
Gupta will spend the academic year researching strategies to upskill and reskill workers in artificial intelligence (AI), particularly in industries where knowledge of AI is essential but not at a highly technical level.
“We are heading into a society where you know AI or you don’t know AI, and that will be the wedge that will separate us,” Gupta said.
Gupta, who began teaching AI at USC Upstate two years ago, said she applied for the Fulbright opportunity in Canada because of the country’s extensive investment in AI research and development. While Canada has built leading research centers that attract global talent, adoption rates of AI among small and mid-size businesses remain lower than those in the United States.
Her research will focus on mapping certifications and skills to career opportunities, with the goal of creating clearer pathways from training to employment.
“There’s a lot of chaos and confusion about, what should I learn?” Gupta said. “If I do the certification, am I going to get this job? What exactly does it mean?”
Gupta’s work will also explore the psychology of technology adoption, studying why some people eagerly embrace innovation while others resist. She hopes her findings will help organizations and communities bridge that gap.
“AI belongs to the self-learners, the continuous learners, those who view learning as play and fun,” Gupta said. “Just jump in and learn. Some things will be boring, some things will be frustrating. If it is, you either push through if it’s important or learn another course from somebody else.”
Dean Jeffrey Stinson of the George Dean Johnson Jr. College of Business and Economics praised Gupta’s achievement.
“Being selected as a Fulbright Scholar is a tremendous honor,” Stinson said. “We are very proud to see Dr. Gupta selected for this appointment. Her work on the applications of AI to industry, and the education of the workforce to support AI deployment, is critical to the Upstate. I am excited to see all she learns this year and eagerly await deploying those strategies when Dr. Gupta returns to campus.”
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange initiative, designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other nations. Administered in this case by Fulbright Canada, the program provides grants to students, scholars, teachers and professionals to study, teach or conduct research abroad.
Gupta’s appointment reflects Fulbright Canada’s mission to enhance mutual understanding, foster cultural exchange and contribute to the development of future leaders.
Hear Dr. Gupta’s story of working with AI at USC Upstate: