Career Options for Maths Students in 2024 [Top 10 Courses For Maths Students]

Updated on 30 July, 2024

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Career Options for Maths Students

Are you in love with the science of numbers and want a career in this field? How many of you wonder which are all the best career options for maths students? Then, look no further, because, in this article, we’ll discuss the after 12th maths courses list. You might be surprised to see the numerous careers we’ve mentioned here, addressing all your doubts and questions such as “After 12 maths what to do?”

Mathematics related courses have always been prioritised by candidates as it opens the door to countless opportunities. Whether it is tech based or science of the human lives, mathematics tends to be the basic fuel for education. Probably why its popularity leads many students to pursue it even after not completely knowing what they wish to do after class 12th. There are several career options available to students seeking maths related courses after 12th, but not all students are aware of the different routes they can take to establish a successful career. Let’s discuss the available career options for maths students that you might consider for a stable job opportunity in the future.

There are several career options in mathematics available to students, but not all students are aware of the different routes they can take to establish a successful career. Let’s discuss the available career options for maths students that you might consider for a stable job opportunity in the future.

As mentioned earlier, there are various jobs for maths students in india after 12th, and you can build your career in maths after 12th. All you have to know is the right direction. Initially, you can also get into professional courses in mathematics or do any maths related courses alongside your studies to gain a better understanding of your future career options and learn more about maths related courses after 12th. Below is a list of some great courses for maths students that you can opt and receive and answer to the most anticipated question you keep asking yourself, “After 12 maths what to do?”–

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

How Does a Degree in Mathematics Help students to get success?

A degree in mathematics can be a powerful asset, opening doors to a wide range of career options in mathematics equipping individuals with valuable skills and knowledge that transcend traditional classroom settings. So, let’s explore the myriad ways a degree in mathematics can help individuals in their personal and professional lives and delivers various options of math subject to job.

1. Problem-Solving Skills

At its core, mathematics is about problem-solving. Mathematicians are trained to break down complex problems into smaller, manageable components, analyze them logically, and develop systematic approaches to finding solutions. These problem-solving skills are highly transferable and can be applied to various real-world scenarios, making mathematics graduates highly sought after in fields like engineering, data science, finance, and everyday decision-making.

2. Quantitative Literacy

In an increasingly data-driven world, understanding and interpreting quantitative information is crucial. Mathematics graduates are well-versed in numerical analysis, statistical reasoning, and data interpretation. This skill set is invaluable in market research, epidemiology, public policy analysis, and many others where data plays a pivotal role.

3. Versatility

A degree in mathematics is versatile. It opens doors to a number of career options. Mathematicians can work in academia, research institutions, government agencies, finance, technology, healthcare, and more. This flexibility allows individuals to adapt to changing job markets and pursue careers that align with their interests and passions.

4. Critical Thinking

Mathematics fosters critical thinking, a skill beyond solving equations or proofs. It involves assessing information, questioning assumptions, and making reasoned judgments. This mental agility is an asset in any profession, as it enables individuals to approach problems with a rational and analytical mindset.

5. High Demand and Competitive Salaries

Mathematics graduates are consistently in high demand across various industries. Their expertise in quantitative analysis and problem-solving makes them attractive candidates for employers seeking individuals who can drive innovation and efficiency. Consequently, mathematics-related professions often offer competitive salaries and job security.

6. Advancements in Technology

Rapid technological advancements have led to an increased need for individuals who can understand and develop complex algorithms and mathematical models. From artificial intelligence and machine learning to cryptography and cybersecurity, mathematics plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of technology.

7. Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Solving complex problems requires collaboration across multiple disciplines in today’s interconnected world. Mathematicians frequently collaborate with biology, physics, economics, and engineering experts to tackle multifaceted challenges. A mathematics degree equips individuals with the skills to bridge these interdisciplinary gaps and contribute meaningfully to diverse teams.

8. Research Opportunities

For those passionate about exploration and discovery, a mathematics degree can lead to exciting research opportunities. Mathematics is a constantly evolving field with open questions and unsolved problems. Pursuing research in mathematics can be intellectually rewarding and contribute to advancing human knowledge.

9. Educational Pathways

Mathematics graduates can also make a significant impact on society by becoming educators. Teaching mathematics at various levels, from elementary to higher education, allows individuals to inspire the next generation of problem-solvers and critical thinkers.

10. Personal Development

Beyond its professional benefits, studying mathematics can be personally enriching. It encourages intellectual curiosity, persistence, and a love for learning. Mathematics challenges individuals to think creatively and explore abstract concepts, contributing to personal growth and a deeper understanding of the world.

A degree in maths delivers numerous benefits that extend far beyond the classroom. That means, whether you aspire to become a data scientist, a mathematician, an educator, etc a maths degree offers a strong foundation for success in a rapidly changing world.

Below is a list of some great courses for maths students that you can opt –

Career Options For Maths Students

#1: Data Scientist

Data Science is among the fastest-growing sectors in India and one of the exceptional choices after 12th maths career options. From academic research to studying consumer behaviour, data science finds application in many areas due to which it’s among the best career options for maths students. Data Science is the most popular course available for students & one of the best courses for maths students.

The amount of data we’re generating every day is humongous, and it’s the job of data scientists to study and analyse this data to find patterns. If you’re looking for a career in the tech sector where you can use your maths skills, you should choose data science. After 12th maths career options must be reliable and lucrative enough to justify all your hard word put in the 12th exams, and data science promises to extend the same!

Scope in this Field

The science maths scope of data science as a career is very bright with expansive opportunities awaiting talented students with diverse roles and career options after 12th maths. According to a report by IBM, the demand for data scientists will increase by 28% by 2020. That’s not all; the job openings for data science professionals can rise from 3,64,000 to 27,20,000. The scope of data science as a career is very bright.

Data science is one of the best courses for maths students as data scientists work with data and derive valuable insights from the same. For example, a data scientist might analyse the customer data of a company to understand the buying patterns of the same. Companies and institutions use their findings to improve their operations. 

How to Enter this Field

You can get a PG Diploma in Data Science from upGrad and IIIT-B to get the required skills and become a data scientist. On the other hand, you can get a Master’s in Data Science and work on projects to do the same. You can also research and read about other maths-related courses after 12th.
 Salary

Average data scientist salary in India is ₹8,12,528.

Top employers for data scientist jobs:

Source

Pros and Cons of Choosing Data Science:

Pros Cons
The course is high in demand and holds a great career prospective. Data Science itself has a very blurry definition, therefore, the skills required often depend on the field of application. 
There is an abundance of these positions as not many people have the skills to justify the role. No one can ever completely master the subject as it is so vast. It encompasses elements of statistics, economics, and maths as well, which makes it difficult to understand all. 
The jobs for maths students in india are high paying as there is a scarcity of good data scientists. As the skill set required is dependent on the working domain, the data scientists have to cumulate domain knowledge as well. 
The data science field is versatile and has various applications. The applications are only expected to grow as we move towards a more tech-inclusive world. Data scientists often have to deal with arbitrary data which makes it difficult for them to perform correct predictions and may result in unexpected outcomes. 
Being a data scientist is deemed a prestigious job. As data scientists help various companies to make data-driven decisions, they also might get entangled in various cases of data and privacy breaches of common people.  

#2: Machine Learning Expert

If you want to enter the tech industry and work on the latest technologies, then perhaps you should pursue a career in machine learning. Machine learning is the study of computer algorithms which improve themselves through multiple iterations. It is a great career options for maths students after 12th. Currently, machine learning and artificial intelligence are solving many problems, and find uses in retail, social media, logistics, healthcare, security, and many other industries. 

It’s one of the most exciting career options for maths students as you can work for many esteemed tech companies and work on solutions of the future. Career options after 12th maths tend to be mostly related to traditional job roles such as engineering or developer, but, with the growth and development of AI and ML, opting for a career as a machine learning expert is bound to offer you a fresh insight into the world of tech.

Scope in this Field

According to Indeed, machine learning engineer was the best job in 2019, and it’s still one of the most in-demand roles among companies. The average salary of a machine learning engineer is INR 6.9 lakh per annum, and with sufficient experience, it can go up to INR 20 lakh per year. 

Machine learning is one of the best courses for maths students as a machine learning expert, you’ll be creating and using algorithms to solve critical problems. There is a massive shortage of AI experts in the market too as over 4000 AI-related jobs remained vacant last year. 

How to Enter this Field

You can start your career as a machine learning and AI expert by getting a Bachelor’s in Mathematics or Statistics along with a Diploma in Machine Learning and AI. For maths courses after 12th, it is the best choice. You’ll have to learn about various concepts of this subject such as Natural Language Processing, Computer Vision, along with programming and the related tools. Doing a course will help you in getting the required education to become a machine learning expert. 

Salary

Average machine learning engineer salary in India is ₹6,91,892.
 

Top employers for machine learning engineer jobs:

Source

Pros and cons of Machine Learning:

Pros  Cons
The technology helps easily identify trends and patterns from a large volume of data As the technology is still under the development phase, it holds a high chance of containing the error. 
Machine Learning keeps improving which eventually increases efficiency and accuracy. If the computing power is limited, it can be significantly difficult to process large volumes of data
Machine learning helps decrease a significant amount of strenuous tasks for humans.  The automation nature of ML is both a pro and con. So far, there are human gatekeepers, but once it becomes fully automated it can unleash unexpected results. 

#3: Business Analyst

Among the most lucrative career options for maths, students are business analytics. It also falls under maths related courses and can be a great career in maths after 12th. Business analytics is the field of studying past business practices of an organisation to advance it further and create better plans.

Business analysis is one of the best career options for maths students as a business analyst has to work with a lot of data and use it to gain the necessary insights to find solutions to existing problems facing one’s organisation due to which they have to apply multiple concepts of mathematics and statistics. Candidates aiming to become a part of tech as well as business fields can opt for one of the significantly growing courses for maths students after 12th, which is business analytics. The role of a business analyst is turning out to be imperative as more and more people as acknowledging its significance and influence on taking well-informed decisions.

Scope in this Field

The demand for business analytics professionals is continually rising, making it an excellent choice among  courses for maths students after 12th. There were 97,000 job openings for analytics-related roles in India, making it the second-highest market for such professionals next to only the US. Experts believe this number can go up to 2 lakh in 2020.

The scope of analytics roles are bright in India, and as companies look for better methods to create plans and find insights, the demand for business analysts will increase accordingly. 

How to Enter this Field

Business analytics is one of the best courses for maths students as you can pursue a career in business analytics by getting an MBA from Liverpool Business School. The modern business analyst using latest technologies such as machine learning and AI to derive valuable insights from past data. 

Salary

Average business analyst salary in India is ₹6,07,209.

Top employers for business analyst jobs:

Source

Pros and Cons of Business Analytics:

Pros Cons
It is a great skill for analyzing the progress of one’s missions. Business analysts often do not have the opportunity to be in alignment with the other parts of a business and stay isolated.
Significantly helps in increasing efficiency. Some businesses avoid hiring business analysts for fear of not getting immediate ROI.
Always keeps you updated as trends are very unstable. If sufficient data is not available, then solutions proposed by the analyst might fail and they’ll be the ones blamed for providing unsuccessful plans.

#4: Blockchain Developer

Blockchain is a relatively new sector that has generated a lot of buzz because of its numerous capabilities. From cryptocurrencies to logistics, blockchain is finding uses in multiple industries and is a technology of the future. 

It’s also a great career choice for maths students. You can become a blockchain developer and help companies in leveraging this technology for creating better solutions. 

Scope in this Field

The demand for blockchain developers in India is snowballing as companies are discovering the capabilities of this technology. The salaries of blockchain developers are 50 to 100% higher than the salaries of traditional development roles. Apart from that, it is also among the most in-demand skill sets. The vacancies for blockchain professionals are growing by 2000% to 6000%. 

You can expect to earn a handsome salary while working on disruptive solutions by pursuing a career in blockchain which makes blockchain is one of the best courses for maths students. Therefore, it is indeed one of the greatest professional courses in mathematics. 

How to Enter this Field

To become a blockchain developer, you should first have a Bachelor’s in Mathematics, Science, or Engineering. Then, you must get a Certification in blockchain to learn the advanced concepts and skills of this field. Some of the skills you’ll have to learn to become a blockchain developer are Smart Contracts, Hyperledger, and Ethereum.  These mathematics-related courses are the future of the blockchain industry.

Salary

Average salary for blockchain developer in India is ₹8,01,938.

Source

Pros and Cons of being a Blockchain developer:

Pros  Cons
It is one of the fastest growing fields in the labor market, and there is not much competition yet. It can be difficult to understand as it is a newly emerging field.
As a blockchain developer, there can be multiple job paths. At one point it can get out of control of a single entity and can get violated with a forced upgrade.
Blockchain developers have the opportunity to work on innovative projects using the latest technology. Adding new features can become difficult often time as there are not many prior examples to follow.

#5: Banker

Another prominent career choice among students of mathematics is banking. A career in banking offers lucrative pay, security, and unique challenges. Banking professionals have to deal with a lot of numbers, and having a background in mathematics will surely help you in this sector. Banking is one of the preferred career options for maths students. Therefore, one may take maths related courses after 12th to progress in this career field. 

Scope in this Field

Banking is among the most popular fields due to the various career options, benefits, and challenges it offers to candidates. Currently, India has 27 public sector banks and 93 commercial banks, all of which focus on providing the best services to their customers. 

Some of the roles you can get in the banking sector are:

  • Bank Probationary Officer
  • Marketing Officer
  • Financial Analyst
  • Account Manager

How to Enter this Field

To get a job in public sector banks, you’ll have to qualify in their entrance exams. The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), the State Bank of India (SBI), and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) organise their respective exams for recruitment. 

You’ll need a bachelor’s degree to sit in these exams. You can get an MBA in Banking as well to find lucrative roles in major banks and finance companies. Private banks and finance companies look for candidates with latest skills such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and financial management, so getting an MBA in Banking will surely be helpful. 

You can also check out our free courses offered by upGrad in Management, Data Science, Machine Learning, Digital Marketing, and Technology. All of these courses have top-notch learning resources, weekly live lectures, industry assignments, and a certificate of course completion – all free of cost!

Pros and Cons of being a Banker:

Pros  Cons
Simple and stable job with not much hassle of touring and travelling. High work pressure compared to the salary.
Stable life and stable career growth  Frequent location transfers can be a problem for some.
Subsidised home and auto loans along with education loans for children. The banking sectors are soon becoming private hence the most desired aspect of job security is also not sure.

#6: Actuary

One of the most popular Mathematics related courses, Actuarial sciences focus on risks of all kinds, and one of the most significant branches of mathematics is probability. As an actuary, you’ll have to analyse and solve risk-related problems for companies and organisations so they can make sound decisions and mitigate their risks substantially. If you’re searching for a science maths jobs list, this is your cue.

Scope in this Field

As an actuary, you can expect to earn around INR 9.7 lakh per year. The highest salary in this field goes up to 40 lakh per year, so it’s a lucrative field. Actuaries find roles in numerous industries such as healthcare, insurance, banking, and finance. 

How to Enter this FIeld

You will need to get a Bachelor’s in Mathematics, Commerce, or Statistics. Then, you’ll have to pass the Actuarial Common Entrance Test (ACET) and complete the 15 Actuarial Science stages. 

Salary

Average actuary salary in India is ₹9,72,899.

How actuary salary increases over experience:

Source

Pros and Cons of being an Actuary:

Pros Cons
There is a diverse set of responsibilities that makes one’s career path interesting. The educational requirements are very high and the candidates often have to have knowledge of a variety of disciplines.
There are multiple ways of career advancement and becoming specialists. Have to pass a series of exams before becoming fully qualified for the field, which can often become a lengthy process.
Proven track record and projecting high job growth. Often have to work alone in a standard office setting.

#7: Economist

If the discussion of India’s economy sparks an interest in you, then you can pursue a career in economics. Economists study the distribution of resources in society. They research and analyse the economic trends of the country and the world. They also explore the relationship between these trends and make forecasts for future trends. Dr Manmohan Singh, Raghuram Rajan, and Amartya Sen are some of the most esteemed economists of our country.

Pursuing career options for maths students after 12th and going for a career as an economist ensures the candidate knows its numbers right and extends decisions based on data and precise numbers. It is a very reputable position which influences the economic trend of an entire nation. Candidates hoping to opt for a significant career dedicated to contribute to the society cand definitely go for a career as an economist with math courses after 12th.

Scope in this Field

The average salary of an economist in India is INR 7.9 lakh per year. Economists generally work with research institutes and organisations. You’ll have to use your knowledge of mathematics extensively in this field. Economists help multiple sectors such as agriculture, finance, and even politics. 

How to Enter this Field

You can become an economist by getting a Bachelor’s in Economics with a Master’s in the same. 

Salary

Average economist salary in India is ₹7,93,357.

how economist salary in India increases over experience.

Source

Pros and Cons of being an Economist:

Pros  Cons 
There is a diversity in job roles and requirements that an economist can fulfil. Work-life balance might not be there as working hours are often crossed.
The job is interesting and keeps one updated regarding the ongoing market trends. Burnout can be a common symptom.
Ample promotional opportunities and remote working are also available in many companies. Staying up to date all the time can often become stressful.

#8: Statistician

Statistics is the study of collection, organisation, and analysis of data through graphs and charts. It is among the most popular career options for maths students. Statisticians collect data and use it to get valuable insights. Hence one of the most suitable professional courses in mathematics. 

Scope in this Field

The demand for statisticians is evergreen because various industries require their services to make crucial decisions. Business, crime, population statistics, ecology, and healthcare are few of the many industries which require the services of statisticians. 

How to Enter this Field

You can become a statistician by completing a Bachelor’s in Mathematics or Statistics along with a Master’s in Statistics. 

Salary

Average statistician salary in India is ₹5,08,647.

How statistician salary increases over experience.

Source

Pros and Cons of being a statistician:

Pros  Cons
Great opportunity to strengthen statistical skills to bag high-paying jobs at MNCs. The job is very isolated; lack of social life.
The job is often considered not hectic if one is inclined towards statistics. The educational qualification has to be high to get jobs with a good salary.
Can work both individually and under a company. The job is mentally demanding and the lack of social interaction might make it feel miserable.

#9: Psychometrician

Have you heard of personality types? For example, when someone says they are an introvert, how do they find that out? In most cases, they find this out by giving a personality test, which analyses their traits through a set of questionnaires. Psychometrician is one of the popular career options for maths students.

This is the job of a psychometrician. For those who are interested in people, human behaviour, and maths, psychometrician is the perfect role. Psychometric tests have medical applications too as they help in understanding whether a person has a specific personality disorder or not. 

Scope in this Field

As a psychometrician, you’ll be working in universities and research centres and creating tests (or analysing them). You’ll have to design tests to find accurate personality tests of your candidates and use them to get your findings. The salary of psychometricians in India is around INR 5 lakh per year

How to Enter this Field

You can become a psychometrician by getting a Bachelor’s in Psychology along with a Master’s in Statistics or Psychology.  If you’re looking for a science maths jobs list, you can consider this as an option.

#10: Mathematician

Mathematician might not be the most popular but  it comes under the most reputable and honourable career options in maths courses after 12th. If you’re in love with mathematics and want to focus on its study further, you can pursue higher education in mathematics and become a researcher. Mathematics is deeply rooted in our daily lives, from the TV sets to smartphones; they all rely on the power of maths to some extent.

Mathematicians study mathematics and use their extensive knowledge of this subject to solve complex mathematical problems. The work of mathematicians has impacted our lives significantly to unimaginable levels. It can be an exciting career option for a maths student who wants to study the theories and applications of mathematics on an advanced degree. 

Scope in this Field

Mathematicians are experts of maths and its branches. They study and use its theories to solve various advanced problems present in this subject. There are theoretical mathematicians and applied mathematicians. The former focuses on the abstract methods and principles of maths while addressing the issues related to them, whereas the latter uses the concepts of maths to solve real-life problems. 

As a mathematician, you can expect to earn an average salary of INR 9 lakh per year in India. 

There’s always a demand for mathematicians in the industry too. 

How to Enter this Field

You’ll have to get a Bachelor’s in Mathematics, and then a Master’s in Mathematics to pursue a career in this field. Some of the best colleges for this field are:

  • ISI, Kolkata
  • Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai
  • Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai

Salary

Average mathematician salary in India is ₹9 lakhs.

How mathematician salary increases over experience.

Source

Check out: Top 5 Career Options in India

Pros and Cons of being a Mathematician:

Pros  Cons 
Can fit into a wide variety of in-demand job roles. Being a good mathematician is a long and challenging process, which the majority fails to follow.
Maths is essential for developing technology and also helps build critical thinking ability, which is highly valued in many jobs. Candidates often work individually.
Mathematicians often get high-paying jobs due to their lack of talent. It takes extensive knowledge and skills to make a mark in this field.

#11: Operations Research Analyst

Any math subject jobs list with uncommon professions will list the role of an operations research analyst. In particular, operations researchers use data to help firms address business challenges by helping them make decisions, develop policies, and solve issues. An operations researcher’s responsibilities include gathering data from technology and human sources, analyzing data to identify the best course of action, and developing simulations to show how a solution will appear in real life.

Scope in this Field

Operations research analysts are in high demand in consulting firms. Even government agencies hire operations researchers from time to time. 

How to Enter this Field

Becoming an operations research analyst requires you to complete a bachelor’s degree with a maths background. Some companies require their operations researchers to possess a master’s degree. 

Salary

With an average annual salary of Rs 7,50,490, operations research analyst is one of the highest paid jobs in India in science field maths. But even commerce students with mathematical knowledge can seek high-paying roles in this field.

Pros and Cons of Being an Operations Research Analyst

Pros Cons
High-paying role with job satisfaction It is extremely hard to become an operations research analyst. 
Perfect for people who are result-oriented Being an operations research analyst means long working hours. 
Suitable for folks who prefer working indoors This job role isn’t for people who love helping and teaching others. 

#12: Purchasing Manager

If you are looking for a math subject se job, the role of a purchasing manager seems right. A purchase manager’s ability to solve problems and think analytically about numbers is essential to their day-to-day success. Buying supplies and products for a business or fulfilling retail and production demands is a regular day’s work for these professionals.

Finding the best deal for the company’s purchases requires this role to investigate several suppliers, compare prices and quality, and assess each one’s suitability. It also necessitates keeping track of inventory and projecting future needs for purchases.

Scope in this Field

A 3% increase in purchasing manager employment between 2019 and 2029 can be expected. It is anticipated that employment will rise due to the ongoing demand for assistance in acquiring goods and services for use in corporate operations or for resale to clients.

How to Enter This Field

First, you must have a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline, like supply management, business, or finance, to work as a purchasing manager. Then, you will require a significant amount of purchasing-related experience. Additionally, as a purchasing manager’s responsibilities frequently overlap with those of other managers, it would be advantageous to have prior experience in supervisory or managerial positions.

Salary

The earning potential of a purchase manager in India can be Rs 13.1 lakhs annually. 

Pros and Cons of Being a Purchasing Manager

Pros Cons
High sense of job satisfaction with numerous perks.  The job role requires extensive paperwork and data entry. 
A job role that comes with a lot of authority.  It can be a stressful job because you will be responsible for fulfilling different demands of the business. 
Excellent on-the-job travel opportunities are available for purchase managers.  Purchase managers are often likely to face staffing conflicts and challenges. 

#13: Market Research Analyst

Becoming a market research analyst is one of the most unique maths stream career options. As a market researcher for a business, you obtain information from clients and rivals, support the formulation of objectives and plans, expand your clientele, and outperform your rivals. In addition to creating surveys and reports, monitoring market trends and presenting data to executives are other duties of a market researcher. As you gain expertise, you will be able to oversee a team of researchers and assess strategies.

Scope in this Field

Between 2022 and 2032, the employment of market research analysts is expected to grow by 13%. Several top organizations will be on the lookout for hiring market research analysts during the forecast period. 

How to Enter This Field

A market research analyst is one of the best maths students career options after graduation. But if you want to survive in this competitive job role, having a master’s degree is great.

Salary

The salary of a market research analyst in India can range between Rs 30,000 to Rs 1,00,000. 

Pros and Cons of Becoming a Market Research Analyst

Pros Cons
A market research analyst can seek jobs in a multitude of industries.  Strong competition exists in the field
The demand for marketing research analysts is quite high.  Market research analysts often need to work overtime. 
Marketing research analysts enjoy high salaries. You can be under immense pressure due to strict deadlines. 

Mathematics Related Courses to Pursue After 12th Commerce

If you have chosen the commerce stream and love crunching numbers, you will come across several math related courses after 12th. The combination of math and commerce can open up heaps of possibilities for students by equipping them with quantitative and analytical skills. Some top math related courses for students to pursue after 12th can include:

  • Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)

After 12th, B.Com is one of the most common mathematics related courses. Commerce students can pursue this bachelor’s degree with math as a key discipline. A comprehensive understanding of a plethora of topics linked to commerce, such as accounting, economics, business law, and finance, is provided by this degree.

Students who take mathematics as an additional subject gain quantitative abilities that they can use in research, statistics, and financial analysis. Graduates with a B.Com can choose professions in corporate finance, banking, taxation, auditing, accounting, and financial analysis.  

But, B.Com is also one of the best courses after 12th commerce without maths. Remember that mathematics isn’t a compulsory subject when you decide to pursue B.Com after 12th. 

  • Bachelor’s of Management Science (BMS)

If you are looking for courses after 12th commerce without maths, BMS can be a great choice. A BMS program will cover analytical studies. This course will highlight concepts like business accounting, macroeconomics, and managerial economics.

After completing your BMS degree, you will acquire managerial and entrepreneurial skills to pursue lucrative jobs in leadership positions. But you can also pursue higher studies after BMS to expand your knowledge about business management. In case you are wondering after BMS which course is best, pursuing an MBA can be prudent.

  • Chartered Accountancy

After 12th commerce, students can always think about pursuing a chartered accountancy course. This course has mathematics as a foundation and prepares learners to deal with complex financial scenarios. With an average annual salary of Rs 9.8 lakhs, becoming a CA is one of the highest paying jobs for maths students in India. As a CA, you will be able to seek jobs in auditing and consulting firms. You can also work in the finance department of large corporations or become a financial advisor. 

  • Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)

After 12th, BBA can be one of the best courses for maths students from the commerce stream. With mathematics as a key discipline, a BBA program will focus on helping students develop a quantitative perspective. This perspective will aid in business analytics as well as decision-making processes.

But if you want one after 12th commerce courses list without maths, BBA will still appear as an option. While pursuing a BBA degree, you can choose different specializations, including finance, human resources, and international business. So, BBA graduates can pursue different professional fields like supply chain management, human resources, operations, marketing, and entrepreneurship.

  • Actuarial Science

Are you looking for the best professional courses in mathematics after 12th commerce? If so, an actuarial science program can be great. This specialized field is all about evaluating risks and uncertainties in the finance and insurance sectors.

Mathematical knowledge is crucial for an actuarial science degree to perform complicated calculations and analyze risks. After pursuing an actuarial science program, professionals can seek jobs in investment firms, government agencies, insurance companies, and pension funds. 

  • Company Secretary (CS)

CS is also one of the most valued courses after 12th maths, particularly for students from a commerce background. This professional course is all about the legal aspects of a business, including governance and compliance. Students with in-depth mathematical knowledge will have an analytical edge to pursue a company secretaryship course.

  • Diploma in Banking and Finance

Several people think about pursuing a banking course after 12th commerce. Did you know you can pursue a banking course after 12th commerce even if you are not a fan of mathematics? If you are looking for banking courses after 12th commerce without math, a diploma program can be a great choice.

A diploma in banking and finance will be for a year and teach you about the regulatory and legal aspects of banking. Some common concepts covered in this diploma program include business law, business economics, banking principles, taxation, and business communication. After completing this skill-based program, you will be able to pursue basic roles in the finance or banking industries. 

Conclusion

That’s it. We hope you found our list of careers in mathematics students quite helpful. From data science to economics, maths offers careers in numerous industries. The above is a list of some great career options for maths students.

For all young minds, you need to check the amount of time, the difficulty level, and the price of the course, before deciding which course to opt after your graduation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is meant by applied mathematics?

Applied mathematics is all about the application of math to problems that arise in diverse areas like science and engineering and how new methods can be developed to meet new challenges and problems. Applied mathematics involves solving real-world problems with the double objective of explaining practical phenomena and forecasting new ones that have not yet been observed to have happened. Problems or phenomena can arise from different fields and applications, such as biological and physical sciences, social sciences, and engineering. And their solutions need knowledge of different math branches like differential equations, analysis, stochastic, using numerical methods, etc.

2. Can you study engineering if you are weak in mathematics?

Many of us have this idea that if you are weak in mathematics, you cannot study engineering. In fact, not being sharp with numbers is a significant fear factor that deters many students from pursuing engineering. However, that is not the right idea or approach. Studying engineering is not so much about being a mathematics expert but about being keen to understand how things function and interact. Engineering requires you to work with numbers, but that is not the sole subject or concept you need to dwell on. It might seem that you cannot get over with these mathematics classes. But those days will be limited, and you can crack them too.

3. What is financial mathematics?

Financial mathematics is that branch that deals with applying mathematical techniques to problems related to finance. It is achieved from statistics, probability, stochastic processes, and economic theory. The methods of financial mathematics are generally adopted by investment banking institutions, hedge funds, commercial banks, corporate treasuries, regulatory agencies and insurance companies to solve problems involving portfolio structuring, derivative securities valuation, scenario simulation and risk management. Financial mathematics is also referred to as financial engineering, quantitative finance, computational finance and mathematical finance. As a sub-branch of economics, financial mathematics is often used for the valuation of financial instruments and assets.

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Dilip Guru

He is a Growth Hacker, Digital Marketer & Blogger. He loves solving problems of scale and long term digital strategy.

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India’s Education Sector needs a new Avatar, a Contemporary Approach

5.18K+

India’s Education Sector needs a new Avatar, a Contemporary Approach

This article was originally published in Economic Times. Everyone seems to be talking about disruption. Like “startup” and “funding”, “disruption” has become a part of our daily parlance and evinces a strong sentiment among entrepreneurial enthusiasts. We are seeing disruption across sectors and levels, all of which is helping us in reimagining the world around us. Education, meanwhile, is crying out for disruption but is going unheard. It is a sector that is brimming with opportunities and waiting to be tapped with an innovative approach. The Need of the Hour The question is, are our institutions and universities imparting knowledge for a world that does not exist anymore in its old avatar? And are all of us, especially our youth, becoming smarter learners? The answer for both these questions is a resounding “yes”. The Idea Called UpGrad: Why Education is Serious Business India has the largest college-age population in the world — close to a staggering 125 million — but it is startling to know that less than one in five of them is doing their post-secondary education. This means only 20% of college-age youngsters are doing their higher education as opposed to 90% in the US. Will India be able to achieve its gross domestic product (GDP) growth targets at this rate? No. Will we need to double our participation rates in higher education in the next five-ten years? Yes Can pure offline, brick-and-mortar college and university models fill this massive gap? Again, the answer is obvious. Look at the challenges. One, it takes four-eight years to set up one campus/university and at its peak it could cater to 5,000-10,000 students. Two, we need to have enough trainers and teachers to feed into these facilities, many of them in remote areas or away from cities. Three, the cumulative outlay at scale for private or public-private partnership (PPP) models to cater to the entire college-going population will be nothing short of $100 billion. Four, over half of this 125 million youngsters, I believe, will have compulsions to take up a job very early in life for socio-economic reasons and may not have the flexibility to go back to college after that. In this scenario, online education can be the big disruptor for India. Of course, there will be myriad challenges, but it offers exponential solutions: it can reach the remotest parts of India, aggregate the best faculty as everyone from the offline world can participate with much less demand on their time and lastly our youth can stay in their jobs while continuing to learn. Kushagra Saran’s Journey while Impacting Education Disruption in online education can be the answer to the gigantic challenge that India, called the youngest nation in the world, is facing. If we do not create equal opportunities and access to the best learning/upskilling/upgrading centres for our ambitious and aspiring youth, our demographic dividend can turn into a demographic debt. Skill India too has a goal to train over 400 million people by 2022 and this audacious outreach can be achieved only by radical disruptive thinking and bold execution. However, online will not succeed if it simply copies traditional teaching methodology. Online education should be more focused on professional education and post-graduation as those demographics look for flexibility and augmentation. For early years and K-12, brick-and-mortar schools will continue to play a big role in the holistic development of the child and online education will only be a supplement. Five-Year Plans For online education to be disruptive and for it to succeed, education will have to be thought through as a digitalfirst medium. Technology will have to be integrated to create a superior learning experience on the online platform. Online education has to move away from being a glorified content library; it has to involve peer-to-peer discussions, alumni chats, group studies and more. It has to shed its reputation of providing isolated, individual learning platforms and evolve into a social platform where you are not learning alone but studying together with a lot of individuals. Let’s come to terms with a few things. In the 21st century, what we learn will have less and less relevance after five years and hence there is a need for constant upgrade. Convergence of new forms of learning will be the fuel for and engine of economic growth. Universities need to develop programmes that are linked closely with employer demands. Otherwise, the results will be disastrous: while job seekers overspend on education programmes that are less likely to result in ideal employment opportunities, employers will be hiring poor fits. We need to change the mindsets of multiple stakeholders — academia, companies, students, young professionals and, most important, families — because how we learn and who we learn from have transformed. Our dependence on experts and figures of authority has diminished while our ability to learn from each other has spiralled dramatically. All I can say is, I wish I was back in college today. If you like to have one-to-one with industry experts, networking with hundreds of entrepreneurs, and bag a seed funding to start your idea, check Leadership & Management program
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by Ronnie Screwvala

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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

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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

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

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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

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

6.59K+

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. 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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

5.2K+

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

5.37K+

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

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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

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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