AI and Cybersecurity: The New Cool Kids on Campus

Remember when everyone’s parents pushed them to become doctors, lawyers, or accountants? Well, move over traditional professions – there’s a new career sheriff in town, and it’s wearing a digital badge.

According to AI expert Alexandru Goga, universities across the country are scrambling to add Artificial Intelligence and cybersecurity courses faster than students can update their dating app profiles. Why? Because the job market is practically sending smoke signals for qualified professionals, while graduates are entering the workforce with knowledge about as current as a flip phone.

Until recently, if you wanted to study AI or cybersecurity, you’d need to be nestled firmly in computer science or electrical engineering departments – you know, those buildings where the lights never turn off and energy drinks outnumber water bottles. But now, every field wants a piece of the AI pie. It’s like that moment when everyone suddenly decided they needed a website, except with higher stakes and fewer Comic Sans disasters.

Forward-thinking universities (those rare academic unicorns) are revamping their curricula to transform today’s students into tomorrow’s AI and cybersecurity wizards. Sure, some ambitious students are already teaching themselves on the side, but as Goga points out, they still need academic guidance – because watching YouTube tutorials at 2 AM might not cover all the necessary bases.

The good news? Young people are naturally curious about these fields. The bad news? We’re still playing catch-up, like someone who just discovered a TV show on its eighth season.

Social media has been buzzing lately with cybersecurity job postings flaunting monthly salaries exceeding 10,000 lei. That’s right – you could be making serious money while protecting digital assets from hackers who probably haven’t seen sunlight in weeks.

But here’s the plot twist: we need to ditch the outdated notion that only hardcore programmers or IT specialists can enter these fields. The market is thirsting for people with algorithmic thinking skills for AI development and cybersecurity expertise. While previous generations rushed to become accountants and lawyers, today’s hottest commodities are professionals who can develop AI and defend against security threats with a more comprehensive mindset.

So if you’re currently choosing a major or considering a career pivot, maybe it’s time to embrace your inner digital defender. After all, the job market isn’t just asking for these skills – it’s practically sending desperate text messages at 3 AM saying „u up? want job?”