Top 9 Highest Paid Science Jobs in India for Freshers & Experienced [A Complete Guide]

Updated on 25 January, 2024

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Highest Paid Science Jobs in India for Freshers

Science has always been one of the most exciting and fascinating career choices for students. The field is all about making groundbreaking discoveries and innovations that can change the world and benefit humankind. All scientific job roles strive to research and innovate to improve the lives of people, enhance commercial enterprises, and, most importantly, obtain a better understanding of the world we live in. Several of the highest paid jobs in India in the science field have helped people lead a luxurious and comfortable life for themselves.

Science seeks to understand the nature of things around us and create pioneering products that can revolutionize the world. This is the reason why careers in science are some of the most exciting and significant. When you choose to build a career in science, you will have immense possibilities to tread undiscovered realms and give birth to radical innovations.

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

Furthermore, science is an incredibly vast field with numerous branches. You can choose from natural sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology), formal sciences (Mathematics, Theoretical Computer Science, Logic), Engineering, Medicine, and even more advanced branches like Data Science, Robotics, and Blockchain. 

Naturally, the range of career opportunities in the field of science is wide and varied. There’s plenty of best careers in science to choose from. And what’s great is that almost all scientific job roles come with a hefty yearly compensation. Today, we’re going to talk at length about the highest paid jobs in science field in India.

However, before we begin talking about the high paying jobs in science field, you must remember that just like any other field or profession, the salary packages of scientific roles also depend on a candidate’s educational qualification, skill set, work experience, and training. Other external factors that determine the salary are the company size and reputation and base location. So, when you choose from one of the best careers in science, you take your skillset into account. 

Owing to the latest advancement in different types of technology in science, many job roles are available that pay excellent salaries to their employees. A required degree must excel in a career in science. Generally, science courses are not easy to learn, so students willing to embark on one of the best careers in science must be mentally prepared to deal with challenging science and technology topics.

While well-established organizations and institutions pay higher salaries, newly launched startups may pay mid-scale salaries. Apart from salary, career growth and job security are also two driving factors that attract aspirants towards a particular job profile. 

Now, let’s get straight into the discussion about the highest paying science jobs in India!

9 Highest Paid Jobs In The Science Field

1. Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineers are experts who work under the broad umbrella of Data Science – Artificial Intelligence. They are sophisticated engineers who specialize in Machine Learning. Their primary job responsibility is to design and develop intelligent machines and systems that can perform human-like tasks with minimal human intervention. Taking the role of Machine learning engineer is one of the highest paid jobs in India in science field. 

They develop advanced ML algorithms to teach computers to learn from experience. Essentially, Machine Learning Engineers build self-running software to automate predictive models. So, with each performance, the machine learns from the result and then performs future operations with a higher degree of accuracy. Machine Learning Engineers work closely with Data Scientists to define the norms of engagement of large datasets, find insights from them, and communicate the findings to important stakeholders. 

Machine Learning Engineers must be proficient in Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science. Apart from this, ML Engineers must be well-versed with Data Modeling and Evaluation and System Design. Also, they must have a knack in programming in multiple languages, including Java, Python, R, C, C++, and Perl, Scala, to name a few. The more skill and experience they have, the more salary machine learning engineers receive.

Machine learning engineer jobs and remunerations depend on relevant skills and work experience. Machine learning engineers experienced in Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning models can earn INR 7 – 8 lakhs per year.  Job profiles like software developer, AI/ML engineer, and data science/machine learning engineer are prevalent when embarking on a challenging career in science.

Machine learning engineering is not an entry-level career option. It demands years of experience in software engineering and data science and an advanced college degree. The combination of several years of work experience and knowledge of relevant tools and technologies helps candidates to develop an impressive career in this field.

Candidates must build their own machine learning projects and systems to demonstrate their exceptional skills to potential employers. The familiarity with deep learning libraries like Pytorch and big data platforms like Spark is a plus. It is recommended to begin practising for ML interviews 2-6 months before the scheduled date. Candidates must be familiar with four fundamental approaches: unsupervised, supervised, deep, and reinforcement learning.

The fundamental requirements for freelance machine learning jobs are graduation or post-graduation in computer science or engineering and 1 year of work experience in Python/Java/ building ML systems and algorithms.

You can make your machine learning portfolio impressive and carve one of the best careers in science by using Kaggle. It helps you to build MLprojects, join discussion forums, and work on different programming projects.

Topmost job profiles for Machine learning engineers:

  • Technical Solutions Specialists
  • Data Scientists
  •  Technical Lead      
  • Senior Software Engineers
  • Conversational AI Strategic Engineers

Top recruiters for freelance Machine Learning engineers:

  • Google       
  • Qualcomm  
  • Accenture
  • Oracle 
  • Cognizant   
  • Infosys       
  • TCS
  • Wipro 

Skills:

  • Applied Mathematics
  • Programming 
  • Neural Network Architectures
  • Data Modeling and Evaluation
  • Advanced Signal Processing
  • Natural Language Processing
  • Reinforcement Learning

Salary:

The demand for Machine Learning is high but companies require individuals to have the correct skill sets. The demand for these engineers are always high. The list is endless. That’s the primary reason machine learning salary in India is quite high. The ever increasing demand. Additionally, the better the experience, the higher is the salary. The average machine learning salary in India, according to Payscale, is approximately Rs. 686,281 per year, inclusive of bonuses and profit-sharing which made this one of the highest paying science jobs.

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Just completed your 12th in science and curious about your future? Navigate through the career options after 12th science to find a path that aligns with your interests and aspirations.

2. Data Scientist

Data Scientists are highly expert professionals whose primary aim is to create value out of large and complex datasets. They are data wizards who collect vast volumes of data from disparate sources on a daily basis. After gathering the data, Data Scientists clean, organize and process the data for analysis purposes to uncover the hidden patterns in the data. Once the insights are interpreted, Data Scientists use these insights to develop actionable solutions for a wide range of business challenges.  It is one of the highest paying science jobs in India. 

The role of a Data Scientist is an amalgamation of many traditional scientific and technical roles like mathematician, statistician, scientist, and IT professional. Hence, Data Scientists are well-versed in Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Statistics. 

Data Scientists gather colossal amounts of data to build hypotheses, draw inferences, and analyze customer behaviour and market trends. They leverage advanced analytics technologies such as predictive modelling and Machine Learning. Usually, Data Scientists collaborate with Data Analysts to discover the patterns and trends hidden in complex datasets. Together, Data Scientists and Data Analysts use the extracted insights to find solutions for real-world business issues. 

Two key benefits of being a data scientist that attracts many IT professionals are the admirable payout and the zeal for solving problems. If you are one of them, you must check out all the essential details for a career in this field. Education backgrounds in statistics, mathematics, economics, or computer science can choose a data science career.

Organizations are gradually using more and more data in their day-to-day operations. Data scientists interpret the raw data and derive valuable meaning from it. Subsequently, they use this information to determine patterns and develop solutions that companies need.

Both data scientists and data analysts analyze and organize big data in an organization. However, the data scientist bears the additional role of using business intellect and communication skills to help organizations effectively tackle business challenges.  Therefore, it is one of the highest paid biology jobs in India.

Data scientists blend practical skills like maths, coding, and statistical analysis to attain outcomes. For example, data scientists working for a social networking platform may analyze the types of pages where users vote ‘Like’. Depending on this, they can determine what type of advertisements the audience would see after logging in to their account.

You may wonder how to get recruited for a data scientist role. Well, you must remember that such demanding jobs need skilled candidates who effectively dedicate their effort and time. Such candidates can unlock one of the highest paid biology jobs in India. Because it is a comparatively new profession, some people may feel that its career path is unclear. Moreover, it is a multidisciplinary profession, so various options may confuse candidates.

Data scientist’s key roles and responsibilities:

  • Data mining or extracting data from valuable data sources
  • Employing machine learning tools
  • Performing pre-processing of structured and unstructured data
  • Improving data collection processes to entail all pertinent information for creating analytic systems
  • Processing and validating the data integrity for analysis
  • Assessing huge amounts of information to determine solutions and patterns
  • Developing machine learning algorithms and prediction systems
  • Collaborate with IT and business teams

Skills:

  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Machine Learning
  • Programming 
  • Data Wrangling
  • Data Visualizing & Communication
  • Software Engineering
  • Business Analytics 

Salary:

Data Scientists Salary Range in India

The average data scientists salary is ₹708,012. An entry-level data scientist can earn around ₹500,000 per annum with less than one year of experience. Early level data scientists with 1 to 4 years experience get around ₹610,811 per annum which made this one of the highest paid jobs in india in science field.

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A mid-level data scientist with 5 to 9 years experience earns ₹1,004,082 per annum in India. As your experience and skills grow, your earnings rise dramatically as senior-level data scientists around more than ₹1,700,000 a year in India!

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3. Data Analyst

Just like Data Scientists, a Data Analyst also collects and processes large volumes of data. Data Analysts combine the best of both worlds – business and IT. They perform statistical analysis on the data to find out how the data can be used to solve business problems. Essentially, Data Analysts accumulate, clean, organize, and interpret statistical data to create business value and also the demand make this one of the highest paying science jobs in India. 

Data Analysts scrutinise large amounts of complex data by using data analysis tools. The insights they derive from the raw data allow businesses to make data-driven decisions. However, once the insights are extracted from the datasets, Data Analysts must make these insights presentable for everyone to understand. Hence, a Data Analyst’s job involves data munging, data processing, and data visualization. Apart from this, Data Analysts also maintain and uphold the quality and accuracy of data.  

Two of the most pivotal duties of Data Analyst are data analysis and data visualization. Data Analysts not only have to find valuable insights within large datasets, but they must also visualize these findings in various forms of visual, written, and verbal presentations. This helps everyone in the team (including non-technical members) to understand the connotations of data and brainstorm on data-driven business solutions.

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Two of the most pivotal duties of Data Analyst are data analysis and data visualization. Data Analysts not only have to find valuable insights within large datasets, but they must also visualize these findings in various forms of visual, written, and verbal presentations. This helps everyone in the team (including non-technical members) to understand the connotations of data and brainstorm on data-driven business solutions. 

Cutting-edge technology has quickly extended the amount and types of information one can collect. So, it is crucial to collect, sort, and assess data in any industry. Data analysts are required in industries like food, technology, fashion, business, criminal justice, etc. Their versatility helps them get one of the highest paid jobs in India in science field biology. They not only collect data but also interpret them to solve a particular problem.

During data analysis, data analysts often use multiple tools to increase tier work efficiency and accuracy. Few of the most widely used tools by data analysts are:

  • Google Sheets
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Tableau
  • SQL
  • R or Python
  • SAS
  • Jupyter Notebooks
  • Microsoft Power BI

Job titles relevant to data analysts:

The following job titles can offer one of the highest paid jobs in India in science field biology:

  • Business analyst
  • Business intelligence analyst
  • Intelligence analyst
  • Medical and health care analyst
  • Market research analyst
  • Operations research analyst

Skills:

  • Programming 
  • Statistics 
  • Business acumen
  • Computer Science
  • Business Intelligence 
  • Data Visualization
  • Data Warehousing
  • Data Mining, Cleaning, and Munging

 Salary: 

For a data analyst in India, having 1 – 4 years of experience has a gross earning (including tips, bonus and overtime pay) of Rs 3,96,128, while a mid-career Data Analyst with 5 – 9 years of experience can make up to Rs 6,03,120 based on the organization and the location of the working place. And if you are a matured and experienced Data Analyst who has been in the industry or 10 – 19 years can earn an average total compensation of Rs 9,00,000 which makes this one of the highest paid jobs in india in science field.

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4. Full-Stack Developer

Full-Stack Developers are programmers who are well-versed in front as well as back end coding and design of websites and software applications. So, they not only create blueprints for the user interface (the side with which users interact) that controls the look and feel of applications, but they also build the backend of the application that controls the program logic and server database interaction. It is one of the best careers in science stream jobs which can give you financial security.

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Full-Stack Developers write the code to manage user interactions on websites, develop servers and databases for website functionality, and custom software solutions using different development tools and technologies. They are responsible for managing the end-to-end life cycle of software applications and also create detailed plans for future solutions. 

Since Full-Stack Developers handle both the front and backend of web applications, they must have an advanced degree in Computer Science. Also, they must always stay updated with the latest trends in the domains of web development and programming languages.

It is one of the best careers in science stream jobs which can give you financial security. Candidates who possess a keen desire to master multiple technologies and programming languages are perfectly suited for the role of a Full-Stack Developer.  

Every startup currently requires an impressive website via which they engage with the users and share more information on their startup. Generally, full-stack programmers are proficient in both front-end and back-end and therefore, they can get one of the highest paying jobs after M.Sc Physics. So, they effectively handle website functionality and strategize every detail according to the trend. In addition to computer science or relevant degree, candidates must be well-versed with the recent trends in programming languages.

 Skills: 

  • HTML/CSS/JavaScript coding
  • Application Architecture Design
  • Database & Web Architecture
  • Version Control System
  • API Knowledge (REST & SOAP)
  • Technical Writing
  • Project Management

Full Stack Developer Salary in India

It can be confidently stated that Full Stack Developers Salary in India is lucrative. On average, they earn INR 6,23,920 per annum.

Entry-level Full Stack Engineers having less than 1 year experience can earn around INR 3,75,000 LPA, whereas those having 1-4 years of work experience make nearly INR 5,46,104 p.a which made this one of the highest paid jobs in india in science field.

5. Blockchain Developer

As the name suggests, Blockchain Developers are software programmers who are experts in Blockchain technology. Their primary responsibility is to develop and optimize Blockchain protocols, design the architecture of Blockchain systems, develop smart contracts, and Blockchain web applications.

Blockchain Developers supervise the Blockchain development life cycle, which includes research, analysis, design, testing, and execution. They write Blockchain code in languages like Simplicity, Solidity, Rholang, JavaScript, and C++. They use these programming languages to create interfaces, features, and architecture for different Blockchain-based applications. Blockchain Developers also design and set up the necessary security measures to protect the integrity of Blockchain systems and the demand for blockchain developers make this job one of the highest paying science jobs in India. 

Since Blockchain Developers specialize in Blockchain technology, they must have a sound understanding of the Blockchain architecture, cryptography, smart contract development, and web development. Thus, aspirants looking forward to becoming a Blockchain Developer, one must have a bachelor’s degree in Information Security/Computer Science, or any other related discipline.

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Among various applications of blockchain, a blockchain developer usually authorizes secure transactions after storing blockchain data in a previously created system. They develop blockchain applications to avoid hacking or data manipulation.

A degree or certification in the blockchain field and several years of work experience are must to land one of the highest paying jobs after M.Sc Physics. Beginners can read tutorials to get a blockchain overview.

 Skills: 

  • Coding
  • Cryptography
  • Software Development
  • Peer-to-Peer Networks 
  • Distributed Ledger
  • Blockchain Security
  • Data Structures and Algorithms

Salary:

According to PayScale, the average annual salary of Blockchain Developers in India is Rs. 5,89,580. Blockchain is easily one of the highest paid jobs in india in science field as usually, the salary scale for Blockchain jobs is very high since there is a serious shortage of skilled and qualified professionals in this field. So, companies pay high salaries to deserving candidates with the right skills. While the starting salary is Rs. 5 LPA, it can go as high as Rs. 45 LPA which makes this one of the highest paid jobs in india in science field.

6. Big Data Engineer

 Big Data Engineers are developers who specialize in Big Data tools, frameworks, and technologies. They design, build, maintain, test, and implement Big Data solutions for companies and organizations. Big Data Engineers develop large-scale data processing systems using various Big Data tools like Hadoop, Spark, Cassandra, MongoDB, Knime, and MapReduce, among others.

They also collect, analyze, and create detailed reports on the data that is flowing to and from the company. Big Data Engineers offer valuable insights into the hardware, software, and data infrastructure of a company to ensure the efficient use of data. They have to write detailed database documentation, including data definitions, standards, and procedures to create a data dictionary. The bottom line – Big Data Engineers are responsible for maintaining and managing the complete data infrastructure of a company. 

Before moving to the Big Data domain, Big Data Engineers must have gained adequate experience in Software Engineering/Data Engineering. They must be well-versed with object-oriented design, coding, and developing software platforms (both open-source and commercial). Big Data is one of the highest paying science jobs in India. Big Data aspirants must be proficient in multiple programming languages like Java, Python, Spark, C, Perl, and Kafka.

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Before moving to the Big Data domain, Big Data Engineers must have gained adequate experience in software engineering. They must be well-versed with object-oriented design, coding, and developing software platforms (both open-source and commercial). Big Data is one of the highest paying science jobs in India. 

Skills: 

  • Big Data Frameworks
  • SQL & NoSQL
  • Machine Learning
  • Data Mining
  • Data Visualization
  • Statistical and Quantitative Analysis
  • General Purpose Programming languages

 Salary:

According to Glassdoor statistics, the average annual salary of Big Data Engineers in India is Rs. 7,46,000 LPA. Entry-level Big Data Engineers can earn a yearly remuneration of Rs. 3.5 – 6 LPA. However, Big Data Engineers who have more than four years of experience can earn anywhere between Rs. 8.5 – 12 LPA. Professionals with over ten years of experience usually earn between Rs. 15 – 30 LPA which makes this one of the highest paid jobs in india in science field.

7. Database Administrator

Database Administrators have come to play an important role in the industry. They are expert computer systems administrators responsible for maintaining a safe and secure database environment by supervising and performing data security tasks. While their primary responsibility is to maintain data integrity, Database Administrators also maintain company database, monitor database software purchases, handle database access, and oversee the upgrade of existing software products. They supervise quality control and the performance of company databases.

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Database Administrators must ensure that the data is clearly defined and is consistent across the company database. They enforce and implement adequate measures of data security and recovery control. 

Database Administrators should have a strong background in diverse fields like Mathematics, Computer Science/Computer Systems Engineering, Information Technology, and Electronics. Since Database Administrators work with databases, they must have a sound knowledge of various database management products like SAP, SQL, etc. They also must have excellent organizational and analytical skills, along with a deep understanding of the business requirements of the IT sector.

Skills:

  • Database Theory
  • Database Queries
  • Database Design
  • RDBMS
  • SQL
  • Operating Systems
  • Storage Technologies and Networking

Salary:

According to Indeed, the average annual salary of Database Administrators in India is Rs. 8,55,070 LPA. An entry-level Database Administrator can earn around Rs. 2.5 – 3.8 LPA. After about four years of experience, Database Administrators can earn anywhere between Rs. 4.5 – 6.6 LPA. The salary scale of mid-level Database Administrators who have about 5-9 years of experience ranges between Rs. 7 – 10 LPA. For senior-level Database Administrators having over 10-15 years of experience, the salary scale can go as high as Rs. 15 – 22 LPA which makes this one of the highest paid jobs in india in science field. 

Also Read: Top 10 Highest Paying Commerce Jobs

8. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Scientist

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Scientist is undeniably one of the high salary jobs in science stream, standing out as one of the best careers in science field in India. In science jobs, particularly in the domain of AI, these professionals command some of the highest salaries in India, making them a lucrative choice for those pursuing careers in science.

In the landscape of highest paying jobs in science field in India, an AI Research Scientist’s role is crucial. These individuals contribute significantly to groundbreaking innovations in artificial intelligence, making them an integral part of the science field career options available for science students. With a focus on solving complex problems through AI advancements, AI Research Scientists secure their position among the highest paid science field career options.

The science stream jobs list with salary highlights the exceptional compensation that AI Research Scientists receive, making them a top choice for those seeking the highest salary jobs in India per month in science. For science students exploring careers in the science field, venturing into AI as a Research Scientist opens up avenues for unparalleled salary packages.

This role not only aligns with the best field after 12th science but also offers job security and a pathway to becoming one of the highest paid professionals in the science field. AI Research Scientists, thus, exemplify the pinnacle of high salary jobs in the science stream in the evolving landscape of science field jobs in India.

Skills:

They must have experience in machine learning programming languages. Also, they should have a deep understanding of AI frameworks.

Salary:

AI Research Scientists are among the top earners in the science field, with an average salary ranging from INR 10 – 15 lakhs per year.

9. Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical Engineers occupy a distinctive position among the highest paid jobs in science field in India, offering one of the best career paths for science students. Renowned for their impactful contributions, these professionals hold key roles in the list of highest paid biology jobs in India, bridging the sectors of science and engineering.

In the context of jobs in the biology field, Biomedical Engineers emerge as crucial players, blending their expertise to create innovative solutions. Their multidisciplinary skills place them among the highest paid jobs in India in science field, making them sought-after professionals in the world of science field jobs.

For students seeking the best jobs for science students in India, Biomedical Engineering stands out as a lucrative and fulfilling option. The demand for their skills propels them into the category of highest paying biology jobs, reflecting the importance of their role in advancing healthcare technology.

Biomedical Engineers navigate the intersection of biology and engineering, showing the diverse opportunities within science field jobs in India. Their contributions not only position them as professionals in the highest paying biology jobs but also underscore the pivotal role they play in shaping the future of healthcare through innovative engineering solutions.

Skills:

Knowledge of biology, engineering principles, medical device regulations, and proficiency in CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software.

Salary:

Biomedical Engineers are well-compensated, with an average annual salary ranging from INR 6 – 10 lakhs.

10. Environmental Scientist

Environmental Scientists represent an impactful career option for science students, positioning themselves among the highest paid jobs in science field in India. Recognized as one of the best jobs for science students in India, this profession merges environmental consciousness with scientific expertise, placing it prominently in the science stream jobs list with salary figures that reflect its importance.

Environmental Scientists play a pivotal role in addressing global challenges. These professionals contribute significantly to sustainability, making their careers both financially rewarding and socially impactful. Their work aligns with the best field after 12th science, providing science students with a promising avenue for high salary jobs in science stream.

The science field jobs in India cover a broad spectrum, and careers in science field, particularly in environmental science, offer diverse opportunities. Environmental Scientists delve into roles that not only secure their place in the highest paid jobs in India in science field but also contribute to creating a sustainable future. Their positions resonate with the highest salary jobs in India per month in science, reflecting the demand for expertise in environmental science in various industries.

Choosing a career as an Environmental Scientist not only opens doors to high salary jobs in the science stream but also allows individuals to actively participate in shaping the future of our planet. This field stands out as a compelling option for science students seeking fulfilling and impactful careers in the science field in India.

Skills:

Knowledge of environmental science, data analysis, and strong communication skills for presenting findings and recommendations.

Salary:

Environmental Scientists earn competitive salaries, typically ranging from INR 5 – 8 lakhs per year.

11. Nanotechnologist

Nanotechnologists carve a unique niche in the world of jobs in the science field, making significant contributions to scientific advancements and securing positions among the highest paying jobs in science field in India. This specialized field, featured prominently in the science stream jobs list with salary details, offers a compelling career for individuals considering careers in the science field.

Within the vast array of science field jobs in India, Nanotechnologists utilize their expertise at the nanoscale, delving into roles that encompass research, innovation, and application of nanotechnology. This career path emerges as a captivating option for those exploring careers in the science field, aligning seamlessly with the best field after 12th science.

Nanotechnologists enjoy diverse science field career options, ranging from materials science to medicine, where they apply their knowledge of altering materials at the atomic and molecular levels. Their roles stand out among the highest paying jobs in science field in India, reflecting the demand for skills in this cutting-edge domain.

For science studenzs contemplating careers in science field, Nanotechnology stands as an intriguing and lucrative option. It not only offers high-paying jobs but also exemplifies the forefront of scientific innovation. Choosing to become a Nanotechnologist opens up avenues for impactful contributions to various industries, solidifying its place as one of the best field after 12th science.

Skills:

Expertise in nanotechnology, material science, and proficiency in specialized tools for working at the nanoscale.

Salary:

Nanotechnologists can earn salaries ranging from INR 7 – 12 lakhs per year, reflecting the lucrative nature of careers in this cutting-edge science field, with compensation influenced by experience and specialization.

12. Renewable Energy Engineer

Renewable Energy Engineers play a pivotal role in the landscape of jobs in the science field, focusing on sustainable solutions for energy generation. These professionals contribute significantly to science field jobs in India, spearheading advancements in renewable technologies. For those seeking careers in the science field, becoming a Renewable Energy Engineer offers a dynamic and impactful option. It stands as one of the prominent science field career options, emphasizing the crucial role of sustainable energy in addressing global challenges and shaping the future of the energy sector.

Skills:

Knowledge of renewable energy technologies, project management, and an understanding of environmental impact assessments.

Salary:

Renewable Energy Engineers are in demand, earning salaries from INR 6 – 9 lakhs per year, underscoring the financial appeal of careers in sustainable energy.

13. Forensic Scientist

Forensic Scientists have captivating careers in the science field, wielding their expertise to investigate and solve crimes. Positioned among the intriguing jobs in the science field, forensic science careers offer a unique blend of scientific analysis and criminal investigation.

For those contemplating careers in science field, becoming a Forensic Scientist opens a path rich in discovery and application. This position serves as an example of the variety of science field career options, where people can actively promote justice by using scientific concepts to evaluate evidence, solve puzzles related to criminal cases, and analyze evidence.

Skills:

Strong analytical skills and knowledge of forensic techniques.

Salary:

Forensic Scientists earn competitive salaries, typically ranging from INR 5 – 8 lakhs per year, showcasing the rewarding nature of careers in this science field.

14. Cybersecurity Analyst

Cybersecurity analysts are essential in the field of research, especially in the domains of information technology and security. Protecting networks and digital systems from cyberattacks is the responsibility of these experts.

As organizations increasingly rely on technology, the demand for Cybersecurity Analysts continues to rise, making this career path a key player in the diverse spectrum of jobs in science field. As guardians of digital integrity, Cybersecurity Analysts contribute significantly to the security and resilience of digital ecosystems, showcasing the critical role they play in the broader landscape of careers in the science field.

Their knowledge is essential for stopping illegal access, seeing possible security breaches, and handling cyber incidents. In the evolving cybersecurity domain, their roles exemplify the importance of staying aware of emerging threats and employing advanced technologies to fortify digital defenses. 

Skills:

Knowledge of cybersecurity protocols, programming languages, and an understanding of the latest cyber threats and technologies.

Salary:

Cybersecurity Analysts are highly valued, with salaries ranging from INR 8 – 12 lakhs per year, reflecting the increasing demand for their specialized skills.

Wrapping Up

These are the top 9 highest paid jobs in the science field in India. Not only do these job profiles promise high salaries, but they also present tremendous opportunities to climb the promotional ladder quickly. 

If you would like to know more about which career option you should take based on your interests, talk to our career counselors to know more about the current industry trends, the future scope of various fields, and more. However, since most of these jobs require high amounts of skill and immense ability to take on responsibilities, it is essential that a student brings relevant experience in the job. That’s why to get one of the highest paying jobs in India for science students

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the opportunities in the fields of natural sciences?

Recent science graduates can expect employment opportunities as a research assistant, scientist, field analyst, or laboratory technician. With additional training, they may find rewarding careers in education, health, and technology. One of the most sought-after jobs is of doctors in India who earn a salary anywhere between INR 1 lakh to INR 20.2 lakhs per annum. A clinical technician in India earns an annual average salary of INR 2.5 lakhs, and forensic science technicians' average base salary is INR 5 lakhs per annum. The average salary of a chemist is INR 2.6 lakhs, while a biologist earns an average salary of INR 7.5 lakhs every year. Microbiology is a booming industry where you can earn upto INR 13 lakhs annually. You can also opt for a role of biomedical engineer which pays INR 3.6 lakhs per annum on average. Health related career paths like epidemiology, psychology, and nursing too offer equally good salaries in India.

2. Can I enter the IT industry with a science background?

Having a technical background is not necessary to enter the IT industry. In fact, there is a huge number of successful IT engineers in India with non-engineering educational backgrounds. IT streams like data science need certain technical skills which you can easily learn without going to institutions. There are mountains of study materials available on the web and specific courses on your chosen subject can really help you get your dream job in IT.

3. What are the top jobs in robotics?

Software engineers work on software design, integration, and up-gradation of assembly-level languages that run the robots while hardware engineers conduct research, design, develop and test physical components like circuit boards that run the system. Robotics engineers work in core robotics companies, and their job involves design, fabrication, testing, and assembling of robots. Electromechanical and mechatronics technicians perform a variety of tasks in the field of robotics using mechanical, electrical, and electronic technology to test, operate, and repair drones, electromechanical systems, and automated machines. Design engineering professionals work specifically on the visual appearance of the robot. Aerospace engineers use robotics to develop systems to control flight systems, sensors, and regulatory devices.

4. What are the opportunities in the fields of natural sciences?

Recent science graduates can expect employment opportunities as a research assistant, scientist, field analyst, or laboratory technician. With additional training, they may find rewarding careers in education, health, and technology. One of the most sought-after jobs is of doctors in India who earn a salary anywhere between INR 1 lakh to INR 20.2 lakhs per annum. A clinical technician in India earns an annual average salary of INR 2.5 lakhs, and forensic science technicians' average base salary is INR 5 lakhs per annum. The average salary of a chemist is INR 2.6 lakhs, while a biologist earns an average salary of INR 7.5 lakhs every year. Microbiology is a booming industry where you can earn upto INR 13 lakhs annually. You can also opt for a role of biomedical engineer which pays INR 3.6 lakhs per annum on average. Health related career paths like epidemiology, psychology, and nursing too offer equally good salaries in India.

5. Can I enter the IT industry with a science background?

Having a technical background is not necessary to enter the IT industry. In fact, there is a huge number of successful IT engineers in India with non-engineering educational backgrounds. IT streams like data science need certain technical skills which you can easily learn without going to institutions. There are mountains of study materials available on the web and specific courses on your chosen subject can really help you get your dream job in IT.

6. What are the top jobs in robotics?

Software engineers work on software design, integration, and up-gradation of assembly-level languages that run the robots while hardware engineers conduct research, design, develop and test physical components like circuit boards that run the system. Robotics engineers work in core robotics companies, and their job involves design, fabrication, testing, and assembling of robots. Electromechanical and mechatronics technicians perform a variety of tasks in the field of robotics using mechanical, electrical, and electronic technology to test, operate, and repair drones, electromechanical systems, and automated machines. Design engineering professionals work specifically on the visual appearance of the robot. Aerospace engineers use robotics to develop systems to control flight systems, sensors, and regulatory devices.

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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

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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. 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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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by Mayank Kumar

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

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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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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

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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