9 Best Career Options after BSC: What to do After B.Sc? [2024]

Updated on 23 January, 2024

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Career Options after BSC

When it comes to considering academic degrees after 10+2, B.Sc. or Bachelor of Science is one of the best career options you can choose. It is a very popular choice among aspirants who wish to pursue a career in Science and Technology. In India, the course duration is usually for three years. Anyone with a science background in 10+2 can pursue a B.Sc degree.

One of the best things about a B.Sc Courses is that there are plenty of career options after B.Sc. While you can opt to do a B.Sc. (honors) in Science, you can also opt for B.Sc. (Computer Science/IT), if you are interested in Computer Science and Information Technology fields. The courses after B.Sc is plenty. 

You can also check out our free courses offered by upGrad in Management, Data Science, Machine Learning, Digital Marketing, and Technology.

Learners receive an average Salary hike of 58% with the highest being up to 400%.

Courses in B.Sc

The standard B.Sc (Science) courses include B.Sc. (Chemistry), B.Sc. (Maths), B.Sc. (Physics), B.Sc. (PCM), B.Sc. (Zoology), B.Sc. (Statistics), B.Sc. (Botany), and B.Sc. (Home Science). However, there are also professional B.Sc. courses, including BSc (Agriculture), B.Sc. (Aquaculture), and BSc (Animation), B.Sc. (Aviation), B.Sc. (Biochemistry), B.Sc. (Bioinformatics), B.Sc. (Computer Science), B.Sc. (Fashion Technology), B.Sc. (Electronic), B.Sc. (Dietetics), B.Sc. (Food Technology), B.Sc. (Forensic Science), B.Sc. (Forestry), B.Sc. (Nautical Science), B.Sc. (Microbiology), B.Sc. (Multimedia), B.Sc. (Medical Technology), B.Sc. (Nursing), B.Sc. (Nutrition), B.Sc. (Physiotherapy), B.Sc. (Psychology), B.Sc. (Interior Design), B.Sc. (Information Technology), and B.Sc. (Genetics), B.Sc. (Biotechnology), B.Sc. (Clinical Research & Healthcare Management), B.Sc. (Horticulture), B.Sc. (Environmental Science), and B.Sc. (Medical Lab Technology).

Check out Management Essentials Bootcamp from upGrad

Employment Opportunities in B.Sc

Speaking of employment opportunities, B.Sc graduates are highly valued professionals in various areas of the industry. They can seek employment in Educational Institutes, Space Research Institutes, Research Firms, Testing Laboratories, Forensic Crime Research, Geological Survey Departments, Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology Industry, Health Care Organizations/Institutes, Chemical Industry, Environmental Management & Conservation, Forest Services, Wastewater Plants, and Petrochemicals Industry, to name a few. 

There are also a plethora of available jobs after a BSc in computer science and jobs after BSc PCM for individuals who want to pursue their career in this industry. Some of the B.Sc computer science scope includes working as a Software Programmer, Database Manager, Network Manager, or System Analysts. You can also choose to make the most use of your skills by Content Writing about science and technology or become a technical support specialist or a mobile app developer.

Check out Advanced Certification in Digital Marketing from MICA program with better job opportunities in the digital marketing field.

Career Options After B.Sc

After the completion of the B.Sc degree, students often wonder, “What to do after B.Sc.?”, “What are all the courses after B.Sc?”

As a B.Sc graduate, you can either apply for jobs after BSc computer science, opt for further studies or directly step into the job sector. If anyone wants to go for higher studies after B.Sc, they can enroll in a postgraduate level degree program in their respective field or subject.

If you’re wondering about “can I do M.A. after BSc”, then the answer would be yes. You can absolutely pursue a Master’s degree after completing your BSc courses. You can pursue your Master’s degree in arts and humanities subjects like – Education, Communication, Journalism, Political Science, Theology, International Relations, and Cultural Studies, to name a few. 

Also, Check out online degree programs at upGrad.

They can also take up non-science programs in domains like journalism, animation, management, and hospitality specializations, among other things. Also, there’s always the option to take  jobs after BSc computer science or professional certification courses like MBA, Data Science, Machine Learning, Software, and Management. 

Read –  Scope of Science and its career after graduation.

Top Academic Courses to Pursue After B.Sc

1. M.Sc (Master of Science)

BSc computer science scope opens door to many opportunities, and this is the most obvious choice for B.Sc graduates for higher studies. A Master of Science degree includes specializations related to scientific and mathematical subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Statistics, Botany, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Environmental Sciences, Food Sciences, Life Sciences, Forensic Sciences, Horticulture, Forestry, Bioinformatics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and Organic & Inorganic Chemistry. M.Sc is one of the courses after B.Sc, and the duration of M.Sc programs is two years.  

Since an M.Sc degree introduces students to both advanced theoretical concepts and practical skills, after completion of the course, you will have a certain degree of scientific and professional competency that is necessary for this cut-throat competitive market. Obtaining this degree is crucial if you want to go for further studies in research like Ph.D.

Pursuing an M.Sc degree in a specialized subject will not only expand your knowledge base but also improve landing high-paying and promising job roles in the industry. With an M.Sc degree at your disposal, you can enter in both public as well as private sectors. M.Sc is one of the preferred courses after BSc. MBA is the answer to ‘after BSc which course is best?’ 

Some of the most promising job roles after M.Sc include Junior Research Fellow, Research Scientist, Mathematician, Biochemist, Food & Drug Inspector, Chemical Analyst, Statistician, Lab Technician, Assistant Professor, and Professor. You can go into government sectors like education, defence, and healthcare, or choose to try your luck in private sector roles like IT, human resources, and/ or management with many other options for jobs after BSc PCM.

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2. MCA (Master of Computer Application)

Just like M.Sc, MCA is a postgraduate-level course that solely focuses on Computer Science. An MCA course usually has four key components – Mathematics, concepts in core computers and systems Science, non-core computer courses, and software development/design. Specialization fields in MCA include Systems Management, Systems Development, Systems Engineering, Management Information Systems (MIS), Networking, Application Software Development, and Hardware Technology.

Unlike an M.Sc program, the duration of MCA courses is three years. The course is usually fragmented into six semesters, with each semester lasting for six months. In the first year, the course focuses on computer skills development (how to use different programming languages and tools to design fast and efficient software applications). While in the second year, students learn about the conceptual framework, in the third year, they work on specialized projects and assignments to gain practical and real-world skills as MCA is one of the preferred courses after bsc. 

An MCA degree is perfect for aspirants who wish to build a lucrative career in the IT industry. MCA degree holders are recruited both by prestigious IT companies and government organizations. Software Developer, Software Engineer, Software Architect, Software Consultant, Computer System Analyst, Technical Consultant, Database Administrator, Hardware Engineer, Web Designer/Web Developer, and Project Manager are some of the most popular job roles for MCA graduates. 

Finished 12th and pondering over the future? Unveil the multitude of career options after 12th arts to find a path that resonates with your passion and skills.

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3. MBA (Master of Business Administration) 

Master of Business Administration is a professional degree that aims to impart theoretical and practical training for business administration or finance management. The goal of this specialized program is to help candidates gain a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the standard business administration and management operations. It is usually a two-year program and one of the preferred courses after bsc. 

For graduates from all fields, an MBA is the most sought-after employment option. Individuals with technical and scientific understanding can acquire managerial abilities by pursuing an MBA. Several institutions and colleges have developed innovative MBA programs, particularly for STEM graduates.

The best thing about pursuing an MBA program is that anyone from any educational background (Science, Commerce, and Humanities) can enroll for it. An MBA course typically covers a wide range of topics and areas in business administration, including accounting, marketing, finance, human resources, business communication, business ethics, business law, business strategy, managerial economics, operations management, and entrepreneurship supply-chain management, to name a few. 

You can choose to do your MBA in Healthcare Management, Communication, Laboratory Management, Production Management, Pharmaceutical Management, Hospitality Management, or Information Technology.

MBA graduates are held in high esteem by companies and organizations owing to their broad domain knowledge coupled with business administration and management skills. Rest assured, if you possess an MBA degree, you can opt for high-profile managerial positions in companies such as Finance Manager, Marketing Manager, Human Resources Manager, Operations Manager, Product Manager, Data Analytics Manager, Digital Marketing Manager, Advertising Sales Manager, International Business Manager, IT & Systems Manager, Supply Chain Manager, and Project Manager.

You need to give the Common Admission Test (CAT) to apply for MBA degrees in numerous colleges and universities. Your CAT Score determines which colleges you can enter. On the other hand, you can get a Global MBA Degree with upGrad. It requires you to have a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of three years of work experience.

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4. Data Science

For aspirants interested in pursuing a career in data science after doing their BSc courses, it is now the most alternative and in-demand job opportunity. Data mining and analyzing large volumes of data with little to no programming abilities is not a viable option. Today, data scientists use machine learning and superior programming abilities to create clever algorithms that can automate numerous routine activities of our daily life. 

Globally, there is a great demand for talented data scientists who can analyze huge sets of data and find meaningful results or patterns. Statistical analysis, machine learning, deep learning, programming, and handling and understanding big data are some of the necessary skills required for learning data science.

Today, Data Science is among the hottest career options in the market. In fact, the job role of a Data Scientist was proclaimed as the sexiest job of the 21st century! As an increasing number of companies and institutions are leaning towards Data Science technologies like AI and ML, the demand for skilled and certified Data Science experts is rapidly escalating. This has further pushed the demand for Data Science certification programs and courses. Data science is the answer to “After BSc computer science which course is better?”

Data Science certifications have gained a vast fan base among both students and professionals. Usually, Data Science certifications span from anywhere between three to eighteen months. Data Science certification programs provide an opportunity to solidify your Mathematical and Statistical knowledge while also encouraging you to work on real-world assignments/projects. This will increase your productivity and your efficiency in completing a task to deliver accurate results.

upGrad has four excellent online Data Science certification courses for aspirants – Business Analytics Certification Program (three months), PG Certification In Data Science (five months), PG Diploma in Data Science (twelve months), Master of Science in Data Science (eighteen months). 

Taught by esteemed industry mentors and instructors, these Data Science programs promise dedicated career assistance, resume building sessions, mock interviews, and one-on-one mentorship.

Topics covered in these courses include Predictive Analytics, Machine Learning, Data Visualization, Statistics & Optimisation, Natural Language Processing, Data Visualisation, MySQL, and much more. Most importantly, upGrad courses cover all the three core components of Data Science – Big Data, Machine Learning, and Business Intelligence.

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5. Machine Learning

A subset of Data Science, Machine Learning is a hot and rising trend in the market. From software/IT to healthcare and education, Machine Learning applications are ruling all sectors of the modern industry. As the demand for trained and qualified ML experts is at an all-time high, more and more individuals are opting for online Machine Learning certification courses. 

When it comes to work prospects, the global scope of Machine Learning is vast. According to Gartner, the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning is projected to employ 2.3 million people by the end of 2024. A Machine Learning Engineer’s remuneration is also significantly greater than that of other job categories. According to Forbes, a Machine Learning Engineer in the United States earns an average of US$99,007 per year, and around ₹865,257 in India. Machine Learning is the answer to “After BSc cs which course is best?”

Skills required to learn Machine Learning include programming, mathematics, data mining, visualization, knowing and understanding data structures, and basic knowledge of several machine learning algorithms. Most Machine Learning courses aim to teach candidates how to design intelligent systems that can utilize and learn from large datasets. ML courses focus on supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and the best industry practices in ML. 

Fresh B.Sc graduates can opt for upGrad’s short-term Machine Learning certification programs – Advanced Certificate Programme in Machine Learning from IIT Delhi, Advanced Certificate in Machine Learning & NLP and Advanced Certificate in Machine Learning & Deep Learning. The duration of both these online courses is six months and one of the preferred courses after bsc. 

Topics covered in these courses are Statistics, Neural Networks, Clustering Algorithms, Regression, Object Detection, Sentiment Analysis, Computer Vision, Gesture Recognition, Named Entity Recognition, Hidden Markov Models, Topic Modelling, Information Extraction, Natural Language Processing, and Statistical Pattern Recognition. As is true of upGrad courses, candidates will also work on case studies and assignments. 

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6. Management

Management courses are the best pathway to gain extensive knowledge in business management, leadership, and innovation. The goal of management courses is to increase the knowledge base, business skills, and productivity of an individual.

Generally, the duration of management courses and certification programs is between five months to two years, depending on the institute. Nowadays, companies often encourage their employees to take up short-term management courses and training programs as a means of upskilling. 

upGrad has two short-term management certification programs under its wings – Product Management Certification Program (five months) and PG Program in Management (eleven months). Just like any upGrad course, these courses also promise career assistance, one-on-one mentorship, live interactive sessions, real-world assignments, and mock interview sessions with industry leaders.

These certification programs will cover all crucial areas of business management such as Market Research, User Design, Analytics, Engagement & Growth, Product Development & Planning, Business Growth Strategies, and Marketing Strategies.

Apart from this, candidates will also develop necessary soft skills like Leadership, Teamwork, Structured Thinking, Problem Solving, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Strategic Thinking and Planning Abilities, Time Management, and Project Management Skills.

7. Government Exams

After BSc in computer science students can also appear for government exams, and get the job opportunities available in the market. The students can prepare for the government exams like UPSC, IAF, IFS, RBI, AIIMS (Nursing Officer), IARI, LIC- AAO, etc.  We hope that this answered what after BSc apprehension.

8. Technical Courses 

The students can enrol themselves on various technical courses which are short term and offers specialisation in multiple subjects, such as Post Graduate Diploma Management (PGDM), Business Accounting and Taxation (BAT), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Data visualisation, etc. The career after BSc does not stay confined to the BSc only.

9. B.Ed

Anyone wondering, after BSc which course is best or after Bsc pcm which course is best? might also consider pursuing a B.Ed. It is the right career choice for students who wish to become a teacher or professor. This particular course will teach BSc graduates to train graduates in different fields to enhance their teaching capabilities. 

There are many 6 month courses after bsc computer science but choosing bEd over then is the perfect choice. With a B.Ed degree, anyone will be able to acquire proper skills to provide exceptional education to students. The job of teaching offers maximum employment security, a flexible schedule, and a decent salary. 

Career options after BSc

There are various career options that one can pursue-

  1. Oil Industry 
  2. Education Industry 
  3. Agriculture Industry 
  4. Healthcare 
  5. Research Firms
  6. Laboratories
  7. Food Industry 

Job Profiles to Pursue After Completing Your BSc

A lot of people constantly wonder, “After BSc which course is best or best course after bsc or can I do MA after Bsc?” However, several people also start exploring Bsc PCM career options as soon as they complete their BSc. If you are planning to enter the professional space after becoming a science graduate, you might consider Bsc computer science scope in the below list. 

  • Enumerator

After Bsc computer science which course is better? Enumerators focus on collecting census data by conducting interviews, which are often door-to-door. They assist authorities or organizations in gathering information about people who live in a specific region or state. They obtain detailed information about individuals through interviews. They accomplish this by personally visiting residences or acquiring information via phone or email. After examining the data, enumerators submit it to their supervisors.

  • Biostatistician

It is the best course after bsc computer science or jobs after graduation in science. Biostatisticians are experts who perform statistical research studies. They are mostly working in the healthcare industry. They examine genetic data and disorders to create clinical testing and trials for new pharmaceutical medications. These findings are then used to discover more about different ailments and figure out cure and preventive measures for the public’s benefit. Biostatisticians also assist in the preparation of clinical trial data and reports.

  • Scientist

The scope of Bsc computer science is to become scientists. They research and explore numerous parts of the universe  to discover new things. They gather, interpret, and study data from controlled experiments  to reach logical conclusions with practical ramifications. They organize and conduct studies, evaluate the results, and share their findings with peers in the scientific community. Apart from performing experiments in their labs, scientists also focus on performing fieldwork to unveil new discoveries. 

  • Scientific Assistant

A scientific assistant is responsible for aiding a scientist with their research to unearth new findings about existing phenomena. They are responsible for performing different experiments and research alongside the head scientist. A scientific assistant often needs in-depth knowledge about physics, technology, and electronics to ace their career. 

  • Researcher

A researcher is someone who conducts or manages research projects with specific goals. Their responsibilities include identifying research objectives, developing processes, and distributing research money. They generally collaborate with other researchers to move a study forward in a similar direction. Collecting, documenting, and interpreting data, coordinating with research teams, presenting results to committees, and using these results to generate reports, research papers, and academic texts are among their primary responsibilities.

  • Lecturer

Lecturers are subject experts who work at the university level. They plan and teach classes, provide course materials, and evaluate students’ performance. Along with other academic tasks, lecturers are frequently required to undertake research and attend seminars and conferences. 

They provide invaluable academic support and feedback to students and peers. They may be expected to stay current on their specific subjects. Lecturers also participate in training opportunities and activities as their institution requires.

  • Teacher

One of the best career options after bsc computer science is teaching career. Teachers serve a range of roles both inside and outside of the classroom. Curriculum and lesson plans are created and communicated with parents and supervisors. Teachers also prepare classes and offer material to pupils in an understandable manner. 

They are in charge of tracking pupils’ progress and providing personalized progress reports. They may also attend professional development conferences and workshops.

  • Research Analyst

What to do after Bsc? If you are thinking of this, research analyst is the right choice. A research analyst is responsible for gathering and evaluating data for a company in a variety of industries, including finance, marketing, and accounting. They collect and assess data to discover patterns that aid in understanding a cause, whether business-related or not. To obtain objective inferences from enormous volumes of data, research analysts primarily employ mathematical equations, statistical software, and analytical models.

  • Clinical Research Associate

A clinical research associate is in charge of performing clinical studies to determine the efficacy of medications. They ensure that the prescription of pharmaceutical drugs is risk-free and beneficial to the general public. They frequently have the possibility to work for a pharmaceutical firm or a government body. 

They develop protocols that outline the objective of pharmaceutical processes and offer them to a steering group. They also create data gathering forms, commonly referred to as CRFs (Case Report Forms). Clinical research associates need to coordinate clinical studies with clinicians and consultants.

  • Chemist

Chemists use laboratory workspaces and equipment to conduct experiments. They develop and evaluate solutions, interpret test results, and use chemical ingredients to make materials and compounds. They are in charge of managing organic and inorganic components in a laboratory. They carry out quantitative and qualitative experiments and prepare technical reports that detail the outcomes of the tests. They also clean and sterilize lab equipment between uses to guarantee compliance with laboratory health and safety norms.

  • Lab Technician

A laboratory technician performs typical and non-routine examinations in a laboratory using proper technical equipment and analysis. Laboratory technicians work in healthcare organizations, manufacturing enterprises, and educational institutions. They then work in other sectors, such as medicine, biology, the environment, and electronics. Furthermore, depending on the environment and sector, the tasks of a laboratory technician vary substantially. 

A medical laboratory technician, for example, collects and examines physiological fluids and tissues to assist doctors in diagnosing and treating ailments. Furthermore, laboratory technicians can evaluate things for chemical, physical, or biological properties. Finally, the training necessary for laboratory technicians differs depending on the function and sector. 

  • Physicist

Another career options after bsc computer science is physics research. Physicists frequently perform additional theoretical studies to learn more about the universal law and its functions. They also perform research to apply theoretical knowledge to real processes or equipment to improve technology.  

Physicists aid in the resolution of critical concerns about the existence of the cosmos and the underlying principles that regulate the interactions of energy and matter. Physics research is used to create new communication networks, alternative energy sources, and cutting-edge medical technology.

  • Consultant

Consultants are individuals who have extensive knowledge in a specific area. They are frequently hired by organizations for their extensive knowledge to help businesses grow and achieve specific goals. 

Their duties include meeting with management to understand requirements, collecting data through surveys and interviews, and presenting the findings to invested parties. They often have to play an advisory role to provide solutions and help in moving forward. Moreover, they are responsible for evaluating the progress of their clients to interpret the value of their contributions. 

  • Astronomer

Astronomers study celestial objects rigorously and record and analyze data while studying these things’ properties, movements, and compositions. Another science that necessitates the ability to perform sophisticated mathematical computations. Astronomers also carry out experiments using telescopes and other equipment to dig more details about apparatus that have already been launched into space.

  • Geoscientist

Geoscientists concentrate on studying the physical attributes of our planet, including its structure and composition. These scientists possess in-depth knowledge about the Earth’s history and predict future changes by unearthing more details about it. 

Geoscientists study everything from rock formation to earthquakes, and their work can range from theoretical research to locating petroleum deposits for drilling. Diverse types of geoscientists may pursue quite diverse goals. Some people work to protect or repair the environment, while others seek petroleum or other natural resources.

  • Technical Writer

Technical writers are adept at producing clear, succinct documents on complex topics. They focus on writing different types of content including how-to guides, website content, and journal papers. They usually need to formulate a detailed understanding of the subject they are producing their content on. These subjects often cover diverse fields, like medicine, academics, and engineering. These professionals often perform research on their own to create easily understandable content for the general public. 

  • Data Analyst

A data analyst gathers and organizes heterogeneous data in order to create a reliable conclusion. They design and implement databases and data collection systems. Their major role is to identify, analyze, and understand data trends and patterns in vast amounts of data. They use statistical approaches and various data analysis technologies to obtain insightful data and develop business ideas. 

A data analyst must be proficient in many data analysis tools, statistics, math, and communication abilities. A bachelor’s degree in computer modeling, analytics, or a similar field can help you pursue the role of a data scientist. But you might have to focus on getting a master’s after your BSc to ace the role. 

  • Atmospheric Researcher

If you are looking after bcs which course is best then atmospheric researchers is the one. They perform different studies related to the atmosphere to better understand and mitigate problems ranging from air pollution to the effects of climate change. These professionals are also responsible for looking after the temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind speed. They examine the data using mathematical and computer models. Atmospheric scientists use meteorological data to convey current weather conditions and predict future weather conditions.

What Next?

We hope you liked this blog on career options after a BSc. While a BSc degree offers an expansive career scope, you must pick the right BSc specialization that aligns with your career goals and interests. To conclude, B.Sc is a highly promising career pathway, and as you can see, the career options after B.Sc are many! You only need to understand where your interests lie and choose a specialization course accordingly.

If you are keen on upgrading your career with an MBA Degree, upGrad is offering an MBA in Digital Finance & Banking in collaboration with the Jindal Global Business School and the Jindal School of Banking & Finance. The program has been designed to Future-oriented content suited for those working in or aspiring to work in finance across domains. Be a JGU alumnus and take advantage of continued engagement and networking with the world of academia, policy, and industry

Talk to our student counselor to help us choose your next career move.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the difference between BA LLB and BSc LLB?

Both BSc LLB and BA LLB are integrated law courses and are highly sought after among those who aspire to become lawyers. BSc LLB integrates both Bachelor of Legislative Law and Bachelor of Science courses. This is one of the best law programs in India at the undergraduate level. It has a duration of 5 years and is ideal for aspirants who are keen to learn law and science together. BA LLB is also very popular and is suitable for those who have studied Commerce or Arts at their senior secondary level. It integrates Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Legislative law courses. However, this course deals more with administrative law and is 5-year duration.

2. Can I do an MA in Philosophy after my BSc?

Yes, you can go for an MA program in Philosophy after completing your BSc. The eligibility criteria for a Master's degree in Philosophy in India state that the candidate must have completed a Bachelor's degree in science in any stream from any recognized institute or university. And the minimum score to be eligible is 45 to 50 per cent in graduation. Though some universities prefer philosophy graduates from recognized universities, you can still apply and secure admission as a science graduate. To get admission, you need to qualify in university-specific entrance tests, like exams conducted by BHU, JNU and DU.

3. Is MBA better than MCA after BCA?

MBA and MCA are two very different disciplines of study; while one deals with business administration, the other deals with the advanced application of computer theory and programming. After completing your BCA, it is recommended that you complete your MCA first; that will put you on par with any other computer engineering graduate. And after your MCA, you can consider going for an MBA if you are interested in business studies or wish to change your career path away from a technical line. Doing an MBA after your MCA will also ensure you secure a higher pay package than otherwise.

4. What is the difference between BA LLB and BSc LLB?

Both BSc LLB and BA LLB are integrated law courses and are highly sought after among those who aspire to become lawyers. BSc LLB integrates both Bachelor of Legislative Law and Bachelor of Science courses. This is one of the best law programs in India at the undergraduate level. It has a duration of 5 years and is ideal for aspirants who are keen to learn law and science together. BA LLB is also very popular and is suitable for those who have studied Commerce or Arts at their senior secondary level. It integrates Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Legislative law courses. However, this course deals more with administrative law and is 5-year duration.

5. Can I do an MA in Philosophy after my BSc?

Yes, you can go for an MA program in Philosophy after completing your BSc. The eligibility criteria for a Master's degree in Philosophy in India state that the candidate must have completed a Bachelor's degree in science in any stream from any recognized institute or university. And the minimum score to be eligible is 45 to 50 per cent in graduation. Though some universities prefer philosophy graduates from recognized universities, you can still apply and secure admission as a science graduate. To get admission, you need to qualify in university-specific entrance tests, like exams conducted by BHU, JNU and DU.

6. Is MBA better than MCA after BCA?

MBA and MCA are two very different disciplines of study; while one deals with business administration, the other deals with the advanced application of computer theory and programming. After completing your BCA, it is recommended that you complete your MCA first; that will put you on par with any other computer engineering graduate. And after your MCA, you can consider going for an MBA if you are interested in business studies or wish to change your career path away from a technical line. Doing an MBA after your MCA will also ensure you secure a higher pay package than otherwise.

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Nitin Gurmukhani

There is no better service to society than helping voluntarily. Grammarly fan, random reader, and an avid learner.

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Working Professional’s Need of Staying Relevant

Online education across segments and students population is emerging as a popular option for individuals. Across age groups, online education is getting adopted. A segment where we at UpGrad feel that online adoption will be rapid, is the working professional segment. And there are multiple reasons for the same – from their ability to pay, their willingness to move up in their career etc. In this piece I want to touch upon a key trend that we are targeting – changing requirements of the industry and the need to continuously upgrade for working professionals. To give an example, a few decades ago – a farmer’s son would be a farmer; a carpenter’s son would be a carpenter. Things changed over time, and a farmer’s son started becoming an engineer. And in today’s world, an engineer goes through 5+ career shifts in his/her career span. There’ll Be A Billion-Plus Job-Seekers By 2050, So Get Yourself Skilled NOW! Marketing is not the way it used to be 10 years back. Payment is not the way it used to be 5 years back. Data analysis has undergone drastic changes. And in this digital age, the rate of this change is going to further accelerate. Industry will evolve rapidly, and as working professionals, each one of us has to keep up with this changing requirement. Industry is not going to wait for the individual to get upskilled or upgraded, and a large part of the onus will lie with the individual. Further, the rate at which the needs of the industries are changing; our current university system is not able to cope up. Therefore, individuals have to look for alternate options to add relevant skills to their portfolio. This is where online education comes into the fore. Professionals today do not have the flexibility of leaving their jobs and going to a school to learn new skills. Online education platforms are great options for these professionals who are looking to continuously upgrade, while continuing to stay in their jobs. Unlike offline education, online medium provides the advantage of being able to update the program curriculum and content regularly, and keep it relevant to the industry needs. Online medium also allows real-life problems to come to working professionals learning, where an individual can actually live the real-life situations in the form of case studies. Top 10 Essential Tools For Startup Business in India In the digital age, each individual will have to continuously upskill himself/ herself to stay relevant, and that would provide a large opportunity for edtech startups to create scale platforms. EdTech startups will have to look for opportunities where there is a significant demand supply gap, and look at providing right education programs. The biggest challenge in this will be the ability of edtech startups to design the program content for digital medium, rather than replicate what is being covered in the offline programs. Taking advantage of the digital channel will be key here. So for all edtech startups, keep your ears on the ground, and look for areas and skills that will allow you to build scale learning platform.
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by Mayank Kumar

20 Apr'16
Google I/O 2016 – Day 1 | Recap

5.07K+

Google I/O 2016 – Day 1 | Recap

The most awaited Google I/O 2016 Conference was filled with announcements about improvements in current products and launch of some new products. In this article, we have summarized the biggest announcements from Day 1 of the conference. Google Allo Allo is Google’s new messaging app with resident chatbot. It has features like whisper/shout, expressive stickers, smart replies- which evolve with time and wide range of bot support especially the Google Assistant search bot. One of the most important features of Allo is that all its chats are encrypted but incognito mode offers end-to-end encryption and an option to send messages that self-destruct. Additionally, once you close a chat, the entire conversation is deleted forever. Google Duo Duo is Google’s mobile only companion app for Allo that helps in video calling. One of its special feature is ‘Knock Knock’ which lets users see the incoming video call feed before even answering the call. So, the receiving party can see who’s calling and where they are before they even pick up the call. Google Assistant Google takes search to the next level. Google Assistant supports “conversational understanding” to make search more natural and to better support voice searches. Google Home Home is built on the Chromecast standard, which lets it push media to other Cast-compatible speakers and screens, change temperature or lighting through Nest devices, and integrate with third party services. The entire experience is hands-free, powered entirely by voice. In fact, it doesn’t even have any buttons. Simple voice commands will control every aspect of the Home. Android N Android N comes with new features that include more control over notification size from different apps and a new picture-in-picture mode. Android N uses a new API called Vulkan that lets developers directly control a phone’s GPU for sharper 3D graphics. Android N will also download and install system updates automatically. The name of Android N has not yet been released. It is going to be selected through a crowdsourced contest. Google Daydream Google has a new VR platform built on top of Android N, and the new VR platform is called Google Daydream. It is an optimized virtual reality platform that aims to standardize the mobile-based VR experience. It also spans both software and hardware; Its biggest limitation is that it will be available only in new phones with special sensors and screen. Android Wear 2.0 Android Wear 2.0 can function independently of a smartphone. Apps no longer need a connected smartphone in order to function. Apps can function and even communicate without a phone, as long as the wearable device is connected to the internet via cellular or Wi-Fi. Users can also make data from any app show up on any watch face. Instant Apps One of the most interesting announcement was google Instant Apps. With Instant Apps, users can begin using an app instantly from right within the Google Play store without even having to download and install the app. As we can see, Google has made some big moves in the three hottest areas of tech – virtual reality, messaging, and smart assistants. However it would be interesting to see how these new products will compete with their competitors and how much of market share would they capture after their launch.
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by Dilip Guru

19 May'16
There’ll Be A Billion-Plus Job-Seekers By 2050, So Get Yourself Skilled NOW

898.94K+

There’ll Be A Billion-Plus Job-Seekers By 2050, So Get Yourself Skilled NOW

This isn’t just a catchy headline meant to shock you, though that would be a justified reaction. If you are 25 years old, have graduated from a reputed institute in a traditional higher education discipline and are looking for a job, you may not be handed one on a platter any time soon. You may be cushioned within the famous Indian demographic that is supposed to yield a “dividend”, but unlike what you’ve been reading everywhere, this does not guarantee you employment. Between 1980 to 2010, 90% of world labour force growth occurred in developing countries and about 500 million new workers emerged in India and China alone (workers went from 260 million to 470 million in India, between this period). India, along with other developing counterparts, is all set to fuel 60% of the global growth in labour in the upcoming years. Keep in mind that enrolment in Indian higher education is only 24% right now. With India attaining almost universal elementary education and increased retention in secondary schools, the projected demand for higher education and jobs thereafter, will only escalate. By 2050, India will be home to more than a billion job seekers. This means providing jobs for over 12 million new entrants annually. There is also the challenge of finding jobs for the backlog, which reached 60 million by 2014. So isn’t this good news? India finally placed on the world map with a solid advantage where labour supply is concerned. Well, it may not all be good news. The new-age job-seeker must strive to acquire specific skill sets to be considered employable. Currently, only 43% of Indian youth are considered fully employable. Indian millennials are being touted as the future of jobs and the saviours of the working world. But this won’t hold true if in-demand skills are not imparted to the youth entering the workforce. The world of work is changing and industries are transforming. It’s a fact that we are moving towards a massive labour pool, but we are possibly riding a low-skill, low-wage cycle to get there. The country is on a trajectory that involves a surplus of millions of low-skill workers, whereas most nations, including India, will be increasingly demanding a high-skill workforce. Impacting Education: My Journey and UpGrad Most industries are replacing low-skill jobs with high-skill ones. Skills relating to upcoming technologies like cloud computing, social media, artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, etc, are gaining immense relevance. Unfortunately, our education system is not preparing students well enough to enter the workforce as high-skill workers or equipping them with skills in the mentioned emerging domains. Gone are the days when just holding a graduate degree was enough to get employers to clamour to hire you. Education is not enough. The new-age job-seeker must strive to acquire specific skill sets to be considered employable. Currently, only 43% of Indian youth are considered fully employable. Gone are the days when just holding a graduate degree was enough to get employers to clamour to hire you. Education is not enough. The positive connotation associated with our demographic shift has been taken for granted and assigned the term “dividend.” But if we don’t strategically harness this change, we could very easily be faced with a demographic disaster. We don’t want to be stuck in a situation where we have too many job-seekers with inadequate skills, and therefore not enough jobs for them. India is moving workers out of farm jobs at a very fast rate, and this will only add to the burden of providing jobs in other sectors. We need a wake-up call and more concerted efforts towards large-scale skill development and training. We may have a situation of too few high-skill workers and not enough jobs for medium- or low-skill workers. This needs to be rectified by adjusting the education and skilling system to ready ourselves for the jobs of tomorrow. UpGrad develops various programs such as Digital Marketing Certification Program, and Product Management Certification Program in collaboration with IIIT Bangalore, specially designed for working professionals looking to up-skill themselves.  Check out the free courses.
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by Mayank Kumar

20 Jun'16
Only 25% Of Indian Graduates Are Employable, And The Solution Is Obvious

6.57K+

Only 25% Of Indian Graduates Are Employable, And The Solution Is Obvious

Co-authored by: Apoorva Shankar, Business Development Associate, UpGrad The world today has enhanced productivity requirements. Due to this, the demand for highly skilled labour is growing. China and India are set to drive this demand. Globally, the share of low-skill jobs is likely to decline from 74% of employment in 2010 to 62% by 2020. On the other hand, the shortage of highly skilled workers with a tertiary level of education is expected to reach 18 million by 2020, globally. But due to its demographic dividend, India will have a labour surplus of 47 million by 2020. However, this surplus may only be of low-skilled labour. And while the demand for highly skilled labour is increasing, the supply isn’t quite keeping up. The challenge, as well as opportunity, that India faces is how to train such a large reserve of labour and convert low skills to high skills. One solution that immediately comes to mind is providing higher education for all. But at present only 24% of those meant to be participating in higher education, are actually enrolled. Plus, traditional college or university pedagogy has been increasingly criticized for being outdated and irrelevant to the jobs market. If you attended school or college in India, you will have first-hand experience of the ills that plague the system. Some of the reasons for this are: Absence of a customized or personalized approach to education (necessary as different students have different needs and learning capabilities). Restricted resources due to not-for-profit nature of educational institutes and over-regulation. Lack of technology infrastructure. Poor teaching quality. Lack of skills-based learning. Low focus on research and development. Minimal partnerships with industry/foreign academia. Outdated curricula not reflecting requirements of a dynamic market environment. Skill-intensive industries are expected to contribute more than 90% of India’s GDP by 2030. The opportunity is staring at us in the face. Only about 25% of Indian graduates are considered employable by the organized sector. Further, 48% of Indian employers said they were having difficulty in filling jobs, in 2012. Despite employers expressing difficulty in finding employable candidates, in 2009-10 the unemployment rates in India were higher for those who were more educated (graduates had more difficulty finding jobs than secondary or primary level graduates). [b_color background=”#EDFF3D”] Also Read – Technology will surely kill some jobs, but not all of them [/b_color] So Indian education, in its current form, hasn’t proved to be enough training for the incoming workforce. The numbers also prove that just completing higher education in any field is not all it takes anymore. This pinch is being increasingly felt as the world of jobs is turning upside down; which is why we need skill training. Skill-intensive industries are expected to contribute more than 90% of India’s GDP by 2030. The opportunity is staring at us in the face. It’s not just about the potential but also the responsibility we are tasked with — restoring balance to the global supply of labour. The country needs to invest in skill development and training for a large chunk of its population. Exploiting sheer numbers is therefore one major reason to skill our workers. Secondly, the demand for advanced skill-sets in emerging areas is growing. Knowledge-intensive roles such as finance, business, etc, and those related to information technology and entrepreneurship are gaining momentum. The reality that these skills must be acquired will take root for more and more individuals, including drop-outs from the mainstream education system and those who have completed such education. Currently, the actual supply of these workers falls drastically short of matching growing demand. Hence, the gaps in domain knowledge are another reason to scale up the skilling. You are likely to be at a disadvantage, in terms of skill training and thereby employability, when compared to someone your age in China, USA, South Korea… In China about 47% of the workforce has received some kind of skill training, 52% in USA, 68% in UK, 75% in Germany, 80% in Japan and 96% in South Korea. Comparatively, only about 10% of the Indian workforce received such training in 2008. India is seventh in the category of countries facing maximum difficulty in filling jobs, i.e., 58% difficulty, where the global average is 38%. These figures reflect that just belonging to the young Indian demographic is not enough. You are likely to be at a disadvantage, in terms of skill training and thereby employability, when compared to someone your age in China, USA, South Korea etc. To address these imbalances, India needs unprecedented increase in both education and job creation. At this point, there is no guaranteed advantage for India in the contest for high-skill talent. It will be dependent on skilling. Considering the state of higher education and the skill upgrade required to be carried out in the future, the process will not just be about learning for professionals, but rather unlearning and re-learning.
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by Mayank Kumar

13 Jul'16
7 reasons to watch UpGrad Talks today

5.19K+

7 reasons to watch UpGrad Talks today

There is really no secret sauce for success. Provided you have had the opportunity to view the exclusive online tete-e-tete sessions brought to you by UpGrad Talks. With an amazing roster of world-class speakers, some from the top 1000 companies of India such as Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Sky, Coca Cola, JP Morgan, JWT to start-up poster children such as RedBus, Snadeal, Ola & Zivame and many more, Upgrad Talks provides insights into their formulae for success. The talks also share deep learning from situations that didn’t work out and many valuable nuggets of honest, down-to-earth and practical advice from successful entrepreneurs, experts and industry leaders. While some lip service has been paid to new-age technologies and skill sets, and the evolution of industries because of these, a deeper understanding of what this signifies is missing. Upgrad Talks intends to fill this gap by bringing together thought-leaders from different walks of life and raising the level of discourse in this area, as they share their experiences. Here are the top reasons why you must visit talks.upgrad.com today and make it your daily source of insights and motivation: Get Inspired Inspiration can come from many different sources. You may get inspired when you see a problem that needs a solution, which you are able to ideate, or get inspired when you hear stories of adversity being overcome by sheer willpower. Rarely does the simple existence of wealth inspire us. It may motivate us to work harder, but inspiration stems from a deeper place that needs real stories. Upgrad Talks are stories from the folks who have lived these stories, first hand. Not only does hearing someone’s complete story of challenges, thought process and subsequent outcome inspire, it also gives birth to new ideas and provides impetus to grow in your own space.  Moreover, inspiration also stems from well-put statements such as, ‘attitude will sail you through,’ by Harit Nagpal, CEO of Tata Sky. A key benefit of listening to industry leaders is that it also inspires us to think. ‘What we think, we become,’ is a quote by Buddha that sums up this well. Go ahead, face challenges It does not matter if you are a startup or an established financial organization; challenges, big or small, exist in every level of most businesses. Challenges faced, strategized and overcome is the rite of passage for almost everyone. Not only do Upgrad Talks cover challenges faced by leading industry veterans, it also covers it from various stages of businesses along with discussion of the solutions that helped overcome them. Upgrad Talks speakers’ discuss challenges faced by businesses in different spaces, which makes these talks an interesting listen. Furthermore, is quite motivating to hear the candid conversations of business leaders. So what is the common thought on challenges in the Upgrad Talks? No challenge is too big. It also strengthens the belief that challenges help you grow and become stronger and develops a sense of confidence to take on the next big challenge. Learn from influencers People who can motivate are great influencers. To hear success stories at Upgrad Talks, which have been driven by deep-rooted passion as well as courage of conviction can be a great influence on most people. It is likely to help you push yourself to greater heights and also follow your dreams a bit more diligently. To quote Snapdeal’s Kunal Bahl, ‘ there is a fine line between stubbornness and persistence.’ Upgrad Talks is likely to help you define the lines as an excellent selection of influencers talk also about the key soft skills required to make it a significant mark on the industry that you belong to. Mentoring As you listen to entrepreneurs, business leaders and experts on models that have worked, one can also start drawing parallels to one’s one business or profession. Mentoring of this kind is both subtle and effective as it helps you choose some key takeaways from the shared experiences that are most relevant to you. Follow the series to get premium access to the best mentors in the country as they talk about education, the emerging digital age and its impact on businesses, talent shortages and advice to youngsters. A bit of crystal gazing In the series of Upgrad Talks, one is likely to come across a vast amount of business knowledge which has been converted into digestible insights that can also help you choose the next steps in your career. Speakers’ at Upgrad Talks share their business mantras and what the future is likely to be.  This is crystal gazing of the finest variety and yet another reason to tune into the talks. A healthy dash of optimism One of the unique selling points of the Upgrad Talks is that they also brings out the combined optimism in business from key industry leaders. Apart from that one can learn what is next in the industry, and explore potential future opportunities in the workspace. The upbeat and positive nature of these talks makes them a must-listen. Easily available online Just in case you were wondering how far you would need to travel to listen to such a wide range of speakers, you can breath easy. Upgrad Talks are delivered online and you can listen to them at your own convenience. All you need to do is to long onto talks.upgrad.com and you can access high quality, pre-recorded sessions online. Upgrad is making content richer, bigger and better as it kicks off with 15+ talks delivered by entrepreneurs, experts & business leaders.  You definitely do not want to miss out on the educational transformation that UpGrad is fuelling in partnership with some of the greatest minds. Remember, one can never stop learning. So, if you always aspired to hear great advice and insights from the top Indian business leaders on how you can grow your business, choose a career goal or get inspired, do take a look at Upgrad Talks. They are truly the voices that impact. Join us today and be a part of it at talks.upgrad.com.
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by Omkar Pradhan

06 Aug'16
Evolving online education: Learning Together

5.36K+

Evolving online education: Learning Together

Technologies in online learning have been making promises since early 20th century. From radio to present day MOOCs,  multiple new technologies were seen as silver bullet in revolutionising education. These promises were indeed laudable, to make education accessible to everyone, affordable for everyone and more effective. Yet, the same history of unmet expectations has been repeated every time*. Although a lot has happened over the past decade in terms of growth and expansion of online education, there are many challenges yet to be solved before we can say online learning has truly arrived. We, at UpGrad, believe the following three challenges are the biggest hurdles to the success of online education. Isolation: Online learning is solitary experience   Acceptability: Online learning’s validity in the Job Market   Not Engaging: Interplay of distractions and motivations in learning online The dismally low completion rates and high failure rates are reflection of these challenges [1]. Our goal at UpGrad is to fight these challenges and provide an unmatched learning experience for the working professionals. We believe, with the flexibility of online learning, every working professional can “UpGrade” himself without going back to full-time formal education. Hence, we need to to make online learning mainstream. In this article we would be sharing how are setting the online learning as a ‘Social Experience’ for our students, ie the first of the three mentioned challenges. In 2000s, internet surfing was mainly an individual experience and on the other hand, in 2016 almost all of internet time is a social experience. We do not feel alone in 2016 version of internet. We believe online education will have much higher engagement and completion rates once it becomes a social experience. An average student’s e-learning journey is an individual experience making him/her feel isolated. Learners move through the course with limited interactions with both their instructor and classmates. We at UpGrad, are building a new learning platform specifically designed keeping our students and their needs in mind. We believe this would be key to provide the kind of engagement levels the students deserve. The perception of social presence (or lack of) is a big concern among students and teachers in online learning. Teachers develop courses in isolation and the students take the courses in isolation. Researchers have found strong correlation between the sense of social presence facilitated by the course and student’s perceived learning [3,4,5]. Also there is good re correlation between withdrawal in the course and student’s perceived lack of social interaction and instructor presence [3]. Lack of social interaction in e-learning increases the distraction, since a learner would look for social interaction elsewhere which is usually Twitter, Whatsapp or Facebook. If there is another learner doing the same course in my apartment building, there are limited chances that I would know about him. As learners of online courses, we are oblivious of everyone else’s presence except few replies on the discussion forum. They do form Facebook groups or Whatsapp groups organically, yet the whole online learning format ends up being mostly a solo experience. Here are the steps we are taking at UpGrad in making our online programs a social experience.: Profiles : The first step in ‘social’ e-learning is knowing your classmates. We have learner profiles with education and work history along with other details. Almost everyone is encouraged to fill in their full profile along with a descriptive ‘bio’ section. There are multiple points where learners are nudged to click on the profiles. To improve discoverability of relevant profiles we not only leverage cohort social graph but also use interest graph, performance graph, complementary skills graphs. Combined with other semi random** algorithms like who was recently online, learners bump into each other in interesting ways. In the first month of Data Analytics Program, an average engaged learner viewed peer profiles 110 times. Discussions: We have a discussion forum which is contextual and relevant to the course content. We designed it from the ground up to involve learners during the course. They help each other, solve doubts, ask questions, have healthy debates on the forum. Only when there is no consensus a Teaching Assistant gets involved in clearing the doubts. Last 3 months data shows that on a daily basis 50% of the students who are engaged on the platform, also engaged actively on the discussion forum. As most professionals have different backgrounds, sharing of experiences on the forum is much valuable to everyone in the cohort. We have seen learners fall into three buckets on the forum. First is the majority producers, the top 30% of forum content producers are responsible for around 70% of the discussions. The next 50% do the rest of 30% of the content but continue to voice their opinions through upvotes. Rest of the 20% are mere observers. These numbers are highly encouraging and we will be investing more time in finding out how student-student social interactions can help in overall engagement. Figure 1: Forum topic distribution in one of our programs. Share in the pie is (questions * votes) for each topic. Bigger share of the pie is a proxy for doubts. This lead us to start live sessions on those topics. Thought Leader AMAs: Initiating and maintaining engagement on the forum is hard. To set the ball rolling, we started the discussion forum for a new cohort with getting a thought leader to do an AMA on the platform. This way not only the students got a product onboarding experience but also the social expectation was set amongst the peers. In some months, the total content creation during AMAs ended up around 20% of the total cumulative content. We also observed a side benefit of starting the program with thought leader – that learners are more helpful, behave with more civility and show much more respect for each other. This is not very unusual because it is known that a group’s eventual social dynamics are very much impacted by behaviour in initial few days. In a way, it sets the trend which follows upto the end of the course. We also explored bringing in external motivations to see how does it impact on engagement levels. At times, there were small gifts for top forum contributors and at times we included forum participation in the grading. Our primary observations show that this is to be used cautiously. We are working on establishing a balance between extrinsic and intrinsic motivations for social involvement. Facebook Groups: For all cohorts we have Facebook groups for students apart from the platform discussion forum. We were not very confident how much our forum will be used for non academic discussions and generic social sharing. However, we found more and more discussions of generic nature and sharing of articles & blogs also started happening on the forum. Hence facebook group ended up becoming redundant. We are thinking of doing away with a cohort’s facebook group with this expanded use of discussion forum In summary, having a strong sense of community within the students is a big predictor of learning outcomes. This has been researched multiple times [7, 8]. Our platform’s usage data of course progress and social interaction activity strongly confirms this research. At a time, a learner who is socially engaged on our platform has usually completed 4 times (Figure 2) course materials than a learner who does not participate in social discussions. This high correlation has been repeated across multiple cohorts. Figure 2: At a snapshot of time course completion rates for learners active on forum vs non active. Apart from the student isolation e-learning content creators and facilitators tend to work in isolation, reflecting and sharing of best practices is minimal[6]. We at UpGrad are aware of this problem, and making sure different program teams collaborate and share solutions to common problems. We do not have complete solution to isolation in learning yet. We as a company are focussed on solving this problem, we are testing out few ideas and are willing to share the results with the community. With these changes we are expecting online learning experience to be more engaging, more involving and eventually pushing up the low completion rates of online learning. These are early days of online education and we have miles to go. Bibliography [1] http://collegequarterly.ca/2007-vol10-num03-summer/rolfe.html [2] Online Social Networks as Formal Learning Environments: Learner Experiences and Activities, The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, Vol 13, No 1 (2012) [3] Tello SF (2007). An analysis of student persistence in online education. International Journal of Information and Communication Technology Education [4] Herbert, M. (2006). Staying the course: A study in online student satisfaction and retention. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 9(4). [5] Morris, T. A. (2009). Anytime/anywhere online learning: Does it remove barriers for adult learners. In T.Kidd (Ed.), Online education and adult learning: New frontiers for teaching practices. Hershey, PA:IGI Global. [6] Duncan, H & Barnett J (2009) Learning to teach online. [7] Kaulback, B (2015). Learning Together : Community and Network from the perspective of designers of online learning. (Doctoral dissertation) [8] Bernard, R. M., Abrami, P. C., Borokhovski, E., Wade, C. A., Tamim, R. M., Surkes, M. A., & Bethel, E. C. (2009). A meta-analysis of three types of interaction treatments in distance education. Review of Educational Research, 79(3), 1243–1289.
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by Ankit Mittal

08 Aug'16
Skill deprivation: Education alone won’t guarantee a job, in-demand skills need of hour

898.95K+

Skill deprivation: Education alone won’t guarantee a job, in-demand skills need of hour

If you are 25 years old, hold a degree in a traditional arts discipline from a well-regarded institute and are looking for a job, you may not be handed one on a platter any time soon. You may be cushioned within the famous Indian demographic that is supposed to yield a ‘dividend,’ but unlike what you’ve been reading everywhere, this does not guarantee you employment. Between 1980 to 2010, 90% of world labour force growth occurred in developing countries and about 500 million new workers emerged in India and China alone (workers went from 260 million to 470 million in India, between this period). India is all set to power most of global growth in labour in the coming years. Enrolment in Indian higher education is 24% right now. With India attaining almost universal elementary education, and increased retention in secondary schools, the projected demand for higher education and jobs will only escalate. India has finally been placed on the world map with a solid advantage where labour supply is concerned. Impacting Education: My Journey and UpGrad It’s not all good news though. Indian millennials are being touted as the future of jobs and the saviours of the working world. But this won’t hold true if in-demand skills are not imparted to the youth entering the workforce. The world of work is changing and industries are transforming. It’s a fact that we are moving towards a massive labour pool, but we are possibly riding a low-skill, low-wage cycle to get there. The country is on a trajectory that involves a surplus of millions of low-skill workers, whereas most nations, including India, will be demanding high-skill workers more and more. Most industries are replacing low-skill jobs with high-skill ones. Skills relating to upcoming technologies in advanced areas – think AI, robotics, data science and mining – are gaining immense relevance. Unfortunately, our education system is not preparing students well enough to enter the workforce as high-skill workers nor equipping them with skills in emerging domains. Curricula is outdated and pedagogy poorly-developed. Gone are the days when just holding a graduate degree was enough to get employers to clamour to hire you. Education is not enough. The new-age job-seeker must strive to acquire specific skill sets to be considered employable (currently only 43% of Indian youth are considered fully employable). This applies to all sectors of the economy, as most industries and businesses are adopting new-age technologies and going digital within most functions. There’ll Be A Billion-Plus Job-Seekers By 2050! The positive connotation associated with our demographic shift has been taken for granted and assigned the term ‘dividend.’ But if we don’t strategically harness this change, we could easily be faced with a demographic disaster. We don’t want to be stuck in a situation where we have too many job-seekers with inadequate skills, and therefore not enough jobs for them. India is moving workers out of farm jobs at a very fast rate, and this will only add to the burden of providing jobs in other sectors. Realising this, even the government has begun focusing on skill development and training. Creating an entirely new Ministry and launching the Skill India Mission are clear indications of this. Another sign that skill training is gaining momentum is reflected in the growth of the Indian education and skills industry at an average rate of 13% over four years. From Rs 1.21 trillion in 2008 to Rs 2.35 trillion in 2012. However, these measures have not been enough to successfully skill India’s young. Only 2% of the Indian workforce has received some kind of formal skills training so far, and 8% have received informal training. Comparatively, 47% of China’s workforce is skill trained, 52% in USA, 68% in UK, 75% in Germany, 80% in Japan and 96% in South Korea. Almost half of Indian employers find it difficult to fill jobs and a similar proportion of employed youth suffer from some degree of skill deprivation. By 2050, India will be home to more than a billion jobseekers. This means providing jobs for over 12 million new entrants annually. There is also the challenge of finding jobs for the backlog, which reached 60 million by 2014. The pace of accretion to the labour market will keep increasing, given our demographic profile and declining age-dependency ratio. Our working age population (15-64 years) will peak in 2050 and till then pressures for jobs will only become worse. We need a wake-up call and more concerted efforts towards large-scale skill development and training. We may have a situation of too few high-skill workers and not enough jobs for medium or low-skill workers. This needs to be rectified by adjusting the education and skilling system to ready ourselves for the jobs of tomorrow. Article Source: http://www.firstpost.com/business/skill-deprivation-education-alone-wont-guarantee-a-job-in-demand-skills-need-of-hour-3020568.html
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by Apoorva Shankar

08 Nov'16
Why The Growth Of Higher Education In India Hinges On The Private Sector

5.13K+

Why The Growth Of Higher Education In India Hinges On The Private Sector

For the sake of simplicity, let’s say that the public sector’s role in education can be identified as a three-fold one. Firstly, it is tasked with universalizing access to education. Its next responsibility would be to regulate the sector and finally, to ensure quality education for all. In the context of the access provider role, estimates show that just in terms of physical infrastructure, more than a US $100 billion spends would be required in higher education alone, to double enrollment, from where it stands today (24%). Where regulation is concerned, bodies such as the University Grants Commission (UGC) and other higher education regulators are in-charge but leave much to be desired in terms of quality checks and monitoring, accreditation, etc. In fact, the UGC merely acts as a grants disbursing body now for universities and colleges, rather than a regulator. This is despite the fact that about 16% of the Ministry’s budget (2016-17) was allocated to UGC. Regarding quality, the government struggles to set standards and measure outcomes. Accreditation in the country is irregular and sub-optimal. In addition, unlike school education, where a certain level of learning outcomes may be gauged, this is difficult to do in higher education – especially assessing employability of a student post completing such education. So is there a role the government should prioritise? Further, because the government is entrusted with these roles, does it necessarily mean that they are its exclusive mandate? Or should the government act as an enabler and allow external participation if it means better execution and a higher success rate? The education and training industry is extremely large today and has strong further growth potential. With total educational spending of $2.7 trillion, the industry accounted for about 4.25% of the world’s GDP in 2010. In India alone, the spending on education and skilling has touched approximately Rs 74,000 crore. This may seem like a daunting figure but is still not sufficient. India spends about 4% of its GDP on all of education (about 1% on higher education), whereas globally the minimum recommended expenditure on education is 6% of GDP. Most of the public expenditure on higher education is used upon salaries and maintaining existing institutions, leaving very little to be spent on curriculum, research, and technology. However, spending on education still has enormous scaling to do and this is where the private sector comes in. Private players will have opportunities from rising demand in segments not well covered by the public education system (like adult education and vocational training). They bring in additional capital and are able to make huge investments, especially when government spending is insufficient and results in substantial infrastructure and investment deficit. For instance, the government had set a target of achieving a 30% enrolment ratio in higher education by 2020. The enrolment ratio currently is 24%. Judging by historical trends, and the current pace of rising enrolments, this target seems difficult to achieve. We may need a better, plan to succeed. Plus, the demand for higher education is only set to accelerate with growing population, higher enrolment as well as retention of students in schools. The private sector could play a crucial role in plugging these gaps and matching demand. In fact, it is already capturing the market in a big way, as can be seen in the adjacent graph. Enrolment in, and share of, private higher education institutions has surpassed that of government institutions (data as on 2013). Even the online education market in India expected to grow to US $40 billion by as soon as 2017. Unlike the education sector, which is legally mandated to operate on a not-for-profit basis, for-profit skill training institutes can be set up. This, coupled with initiatives of the National Skill Development Corporation, has encouraged the private sector to set up vocational training institutes. Corporate interest has also increased in the skill development space because of the benefits that accrue to businesses themselves, in the form of adequately trained manpower as a ready pool for future hiring. Majority of institutions offering professional disciplines are now in the private sector. There is a tendency of the public sector to view the private sector’s involvement in the education space with scepticism. But the private sector is necessary because of its ability to match industry demand for superior skilled manpower. It supplements infrastructure, facilities, technology and pedagogy and has an added advantage of escaping bureaucratic control and retaining autonomy to a large extent. Private players often collaborate with reputed international universities for faculty and other benefits which can be attractive to prospective students. They are also heavily investing in research-based education. As consumers of skilled manpower as well, the private sector is in a position to understand what type of skill training is to be imparted, and eventually benefit from it. This makes skill-training more efficient and effective. All three education-related roles of the government are equally important. However, while regulation should remain outside the purview of the private sector, nothing should stop them from assisting the public sector in maximising enrolments and improving quality of education. Public needs to work with private and create a level-playing field, in order to uplift the overall quality of education. Article Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.in/mayank-kumar/why-the-growth-of-higher-education-in-india-hinges-on-the-privat/
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by Apoorva Shankar

08 Nov'16