Explore Courses
Liverpool Business SchoolLiverpool Business SchoolMBA by Liverpool Business School
  • 18 Months
Bestseller
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityMBA (Master of Business Administration)
  • 15 Months
Popular
O.P.Jindal Global UniversityO.P.Jindal Global UniversityMaster of Business Administration (MBA)
  • 12 Months
New
Birla Institute of Management Technology Birla Institute of Management Technology Post Graduate Diploma in Management (BIMTECH)
  • 24 Months
Liverpool John Moores UniversityLiverpool John Moores UniversityMS in Data Science
  • 18 Months
Popular
IIIT BangaloreIIIT BangalorePost Graduate Programme in Data Science & AI (Executive)
  • 12 Months
Bestseller
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityDBA in Emerging Technologies with concentration in Generative AI
  • 3 Years
upGradupGradData Science Bootcamp with AI
  • 6 Months
New
University of MarylandIIIT BangalorePost Graduate Certificate in Data Science & AI (Executive)
  • 8-8.5 Months
upGradupGradData Science Bootcamp with AI
  • 6 months
Popular
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutData Engineer Bootcamp
  • Self-Paced
upGradupGradCertificate Course in Business Analytics & Consulting in association with PwC India
  • 06 Months
OP Jindal Global UniversityOP Jindal Global UniversityMaster of Design in User Experience Design
  • 12 Months
Popular
WoolfWoolfMaster of Science in Computer Science
  • 18 Months
New
Jindal Global UniversityJindal Global UniversityMaster of Design in User Experience
  • 12 Months
New
Rushford, GenevaRushford Business SchoolDBA Doctorate in Technology (Computer Science)
  • 36 Months
IIIT BangaloreIIIT BangaloreCloud Computing and DevOps Program (Executive)
  • 8 Months
New
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutAWS Solutions Architect Certification
  • 32 Hours
upGradupGradFull Stack Software Development Bootcamp
  • 6 Months
Popular
upGradupGradUI/UX Bootcamp
  • 3 Months
upGradupGradCloud Computing Bootcamp
  • 7.5 Months
Golden Gate University Golden Gate University Doctor of Business Administration in Digital Leadership
  • 36 Months
New
Jindal Global UniversityJindal Global UniversityMaster of Design in User Experience
  • 12 Months
New
Golden Gate University Golden Gate University Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
  • 36 Months
Bestseller
Ecole Supérieure de Gestion et Commerce International ParisEcole Supérieure de Gestion et Commerce International ParisDoctorate of Business Administration (DBA)
  • 36 Months
Rushford, GenevaRushford Business SchoolDoctorate of Business Administration (DBA)
  • 36 Months
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradSAFe® 6.0 Certified ScrumMaster (SSM) Training
  • Self-Paced
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradPMP® certification
  • Self-Paced
IIM KozhikodeIIM KozhikodeProfessional Certification in HR Management and Analytics
  • 6 Months
Bestseller
Duke CEDuke CEPost Graduate Certificate in Product Management
  • 4-8 Months
Bestseller
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutLeading SAFe® 6.0 Certification
  • 16 Hours
Popular
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutCertified ScrumMaster®(CSM) Training
  • 16 Hours
Bestseller
PwCupGrad CampusCertification Program in Financial Modelling & Analysis in association with PwC India
  • 4 Months
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutSAFe® 6.0 POPM Certification
  • 16 Hours
O.P.Jindal Global UniversityO.P.Jindal Global UniversityMaster of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
  • 12 Months
Bestseller
Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool John Moores University MS in Machine Learning & AI
  • 18 Months
Popular
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityDBA in Emerging Technologies with concentration in Generative AI
  • 3 Years
IIIT BangaloreIIIT BangaloreExecutive Post Graduate Programme in Machine Learning & AI
  • 13 Months
Bestseller
IIITBIIITBExecutive Program in Generative AI for Leaders
  • 4 Months
upGradupGradAdvanced Certificate Program in GenerativeAI
  • 4 Months
New
IIIT BangaloreIIIT BangalorePost Graduate Certificate in Machine Learning & Deep Learning (Executive)
  • 8 Months
Bestseller
Jindal Global UniversityJindal Global UniversityMaster of Design in User Experience
  • 12 Months
New
Liverpool Business SchoolLiverpool Business SchoolMBA with Marketing Concentration
  • 18 Months
Bestseller
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityMBA with Marketing Concentration
  • 15 Months
Popular
MICAMICAAdvanced Certificate in Digital Marketing and Communication
  • 6 Months
Bestseller
MICAMICAAdvanced Certificate in Brand Communication Management
  • 5 Months
Popular
upGradupGradDigital Marketing Accelerator Program
  • 05 Months
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in Corporate & Financial Law
  • 12 Months
Bestseller
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in AI and Emerging Technologies (Blended Learning Program)
  • 12 Months
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in Intellectual Property & Technology Law
  • 12 Months
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in Dispute Resolution
  • 12 Months
upGradupGradContract Law Certificate Program
  • Self paced
New
ESGCI, ParisESGCI, ParisDoctorate of Business Administration (DBA) from ESGCI, Paris
  • 36 Months
Golden Gate University Golden Gate University Doctor of Business Administration From Golden Gate University, San Francisco
  • 36 Months
Rushford Business SchoolRushford Business SchoolDoctor of Business Administration from Rushford Business School, Switzerland)
  • 36 Months
Edgewood CollegeEdgewood CollegeDoctorate of Business Administration from Edgewood College
  • 24 Months
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityDBA in Emerging Technologies with Concentration in Generative AI
  • 36 Months
Golden Gate University Golden Gate University DBA in Digital Leadership from Golden Gate University, San Francisco
  • 36 Months
Liverpool Business SchoolLiverpool Business SchoolMBA by Liverpool Business School
  • 18 Months
Bestseller
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityMBA (Master of Business Administration)
  • 15 Months
Popular
O.P.Jindal Global UniversityO.P.Jindal Global UniversityMaster of Business Administration (MBA)
  • 12 Months
New
Deakin Business School and Institute of Management Technology, GhaziabadDeakin Business School and IMT, GhaziabadMBA (Master of Business Administration)
  • 12 Months
Liverpool John Moores UniversityLiverpool John Moores UniversityMS in Data Science
  • 18 Months
Bestseller
O.P.Jindal Global UniversityO.P.Jindal Global UniversityMaster of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
  • 12 Months
Bestseller
IIIT BangaloreIIIT BangalorePost Graduate Programme in Data Science (Executive)
  • 12 Months
Bestseller
O.P.Jindal Global UniversityO.P.Jindal Global UniversityO.P.Jindal Global University
  • 12 Months
WoolfWoolfMaster of Science in Computer Science
  • 18 Months
New
Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool John Moores University MS in Machine Learning & AI
  • 18 Months
Popular
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityDBA in Emerging Technologies with concentration in Generative AI
  • 3 Years
Rushford, GenevaRushford Business SchoolDoctorate of Business Administration (AI/ML)
  • 36 Months
Ecole Supérieure de Gestion et Commerce International ParisEcole Supérieure de Gestion et Commerce International ParisDBA Specialisation in AI & ML
  • 36 Months
Golden Gate University Golden Gate University Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
  • 36 Months
Bestseller
Ecole Supérieure de Gestion et Commerce International ParisEcole Supérieure de Gestion et Commerce International ParisDoctorate of Business Administration (DBA)
  • 36 Months
Rushford, GenevaRushford Business SchoolDoctorate of Business Administration (DBA)
  • 36 Months
Liverpool Business SchoolLiverpool Business SchoolMBA with Marketing Concentration
  • 18 Months
Bestseller
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityMBA with Marketing Concentration
  • 15 Months
Popular
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in Corporate & Financial Law
  • 12 Months
Bestseller
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in Intellectual Property & Technology Law
  • 12 Months
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in Dispute Resolution
  • 12 Months
IIITBIIITBExecutive Program in Generative AI for Leaders
  • 4 Months
New
IIIT BangaloreIIIT BangaloreExecutive Post Graduate Programme in Machine Learning & AI
  • 13 Months
Bestseller
upGradupGradData Science Bootcamp with AI
  • 6 Months
New
upGradupGradAdvanced Certificate Program in GenerativeAI
  • 4 Months
New
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradSAFe® 6.0 Certified ScrumMaster (SSM) Training
  • Self-Paced
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutCertified ScrumMaster®(CSM) Training
  • 16 Hours
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutLeading SAFe® 6.0 Certification
  • 16 Hours
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradPMP® certification
  • Self-Paced
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutAWS Solutions Architect Certification
  • 32 Hours
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutAzure Administrator Certification (AZ-104)
  • 24 Hours
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradAWS Cloud Practioner Essentials Certification
  • 1 Week
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradAzure Data Engineering Training (DP-203)
  • 1 Week
MICAMICAAdvanced Certificate in Digital Marketing and Communication
  • 6 Months
Bestseller
MICAMICAAdvanced Certificate in Brand Communication Management
  • 5 Months
Popular
IIM KozhikodeIIM KozhikodeProfessional Certification in HR Management and Analytics
  • 6 Months
Bestseller
Duke CEDuke CEPost Graduate Certificate in Product Management
  • 4-8 Months
Bestseller
Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA)Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA)Executive PG Programme in Human Resource Management
  • 11 Months
Popular
Goa Institute of ManagementGoa Institute of ManagementExecutive PG Program in Healthcare Management
  • 11 Months
IMT GhaziabadIMT GhaziabadAdvanced General Management Program
  • 11 Months
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityProfessional Certificate in Global Business Management
  • 6-8 Months
upGradupGradContract Law Certificate Program
  • Self paced
New
IU, GermanyIU, GermanyMaster of Business Administration (90 ECTS)
  • 18 Months
Bestseller
IU, GermanyIU, GermanyMaster in International Management (120 ECTS)
  • 24 Months
Popular
IU, GermanyIU, GermanyB.Sc. Computer Science (180 ECTS)
  • 36 Months
Clark UniversityClark UniversityMaster of Business Administration
  • 23 Months
New
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityMaster of Business Administration
  • 20 Months
Clark University, USClark University, USMS in Project Management
  • 20 Months
New
Edgewood CollegeEdgewood CollegeMaster of Business Administration
  • 23 Months
The American Business SchoolThe American Business SchoolMBA with specialization
  • 23 Months
New
Aivancity ParisAivancity ParisMSc Artificial Intelligence Engineering
  • 24 Months
Aivancity ParisAivancity ParisMSc Data Engineering
  • 24 Months
The American Business SchoolThe American Business SchoolMBA with specialization
  • 23 Months
New
Aivancity ParisAivancity ParisMSc Artificial Intelligence Engineering
  • 24 Months
Aivancity ParisAivancity ParisMSc Data Engineering
  • 24 Months
upGradupGradData Science Bootcamp with AI
  • 6 Months
Popular
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutData Engineer Bootcamp
  • Self-Paced
upGradupGradFull Stack Software Development Bootcamp
  • 6 Months
Bestseller
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradBackend Development Bootcamp
  • Self-Paced
upGradupGradUI/UX Bootcamp
  • 3 Months
upGradupGradCloud Computing Bootcamp
  • 7.5 Months
PwCupGrad CampusCertification Program in Financial Modelling & Analysis in association with PwC India
  • 5 Months
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutSAFe® 6.0 POPM Certification
  • 16 Hours
upGradupGradDigital Marketing Accelerator Program
  • 05 Months
upGradupGradAdvanced Certificate Program in GenerativeAI
  • 4 Months
New
upGradupGradData Science Bootcamp with AI
  • 6 Months
Popular
upGradupGradFull Stack Software Development Bootcamp
  • 6 Months
Bestseller
upGradupGradUI/UX Bootcamp
  • 3 Months
PwCupGrad CampusCertification Program in Financial Modelling & Analysis in association with PwC India
  • 4 Months
upGradupGradCertificate Course in Business Analytics & Consulting in association with PwC India
  • 06 Months
upGradupGradDigital Marketing Accelerator Program
  • 05 Months

Top 10 Highest Paying IT Certifications in India in 2024 [Astonishing]

Updated on 19 April, 2024

86.22K+ views
30 min read
Highest Paying IT Certifications in India

Summary:

In this article, you will learn about the top 10 highest-paying IT certifications in India. Take a glimpse below.

  1. Business Intelligence (BI)
  2. Big Data and Data Science
  3. Project Management
  4. Web Development
  5. Software Development
  6. DevOps
  7. Blockchain 
  8. Cloud Computing
  9. Cybersecurity
  10. Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence

Read the complete article to know more in detail.

Nearly 75% of the global digital talent is in India, making the country a hub for IT services. The core competencies and strengths of the workforce have also attracted significant FDI inflows. From the industry perspective, leading tech firms are accelerating their R&D efforts and innovation to create differentiated offerings. And major government initiatives are providing a much-needed impetus to the industry. Check out our free courses to get an edge over the competition.

Therefore, the demand for skilled professionals and specialists is on the rise. In this article, we will be discussing some of the top-paying IT certifications that can help you build a competitive profile with the desired aptitude.

IT field is rising because of its applied significance in the industry as it is projected to grow to US$ 19.93 billion by 2025 IT is not restricted to only one domain where the employment seems to be crowded rather it has multiple sub-domains under it where each sub-domain is serving an important purpose to solve the business problems, some of the sub-domains are mentioned below. Digital transformation can be said to be the reason behind the IT sector’s growth. The world was going digital at its own pace but after the pandemic, there was a sudden shift of operations to digital. With this came the need to digitally operate the tasks smoothly and as a result, various new jobs in IT were created.

It sector would continue to be growing as the businesses are now evolving because of artificial intelligence and as the organisations grow they seek to achieve automation, more data handling, insights for business decision making, etc. The professionals are bestowed with the responsibility of handling these important tasks and that’s another reason why the IT sector is growing. 

The IT industry has various advantages that it serves, such as-

  1. Accuracy
  2. Time efficient
  3. Cost efficient
  4. Faster decision making
  5. Security enhancement
  6. Flexibility
  7. Profitability
  8. Enhanced productivity
  9. Real-time Data

An accredited certification program can prove immensely useful if you contemplate a career transition or simply want to stand out in the competitive job market. It is a recognition of your technical competency and professional commitment. You can also consider doing our Management Essentials Bootcamp if you are interested.

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

Best IT Certifications in 2024

1. Business Intelligence (BI)

The significance of BI in making data-driven decisions is growing across industries in today’s technology-led environment. Modern workplaces have an increasing demand for skilled personnel who can handle analysis and data modeling. These tasks involve working with central warehouses and databases and extracting data for reporting, among other purposes. 

With a BI certification, IT professionals can fine-tune their skills in data planning, metadata systems development, ERP, systems analysis, programming, and technology management. Typically, the credential demonstrates one’s competency in data management, building dashboards (using relational data and uploaded files), and managing advanced reports. Some of the prominent options include:

  • Microsoft BI
  • IBM Cognos Analytics
  • Tableau Training and Certification
  • SAS Certification
  • Informatica ETL Certification

Aspirants who wish to master Business Intelligence can take up short-term certification courses like the Business Analytics Certification Program. This program covers topics like Predictive Modelling and Statistics & Optimisation, along with case studies and projects, to help students build real-world skills. Such certifications prepare you for roles like Business Analyst, Data Analyst, and other senior-level management roles in a company.

BI is growing as the volume of data the organisations are dealing with on a day-to-day basis. This data needs to be documented and interpreted well in order for the organsiation to grow. To analyse this data in order to make effective decisions that are good for the business, it is important for the organisations to have those professionals who have the knack for business intelligence. As these BI professionals through their accurate and quick interpretations help the organisations to achieve profitability as well as move to smarter decisions. The Business Intelligence skill has a process of functioning, one needs to polish these skills in order to be good at it. Some of those skills are depicted below-

Business Intelligence is a high-paying career, which is reflected in the competitive salary it pays. The salary ranges from 2.5 LPA to 28.3 LPA and the average salary is 8.0 LPA. With the increasing experience, the salary grows and the constant upskilling is definitely the major driving factor behind it as well. That is why it is highly recommended to invest the time into top paying IT certifications.

Business Intelligence Salary Scope in India

City Average Annual Salary
Bangalore ₹8.9 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹8.2 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹7.4 Lakhs
Hyderabad ₹8.4 Lakhs
Pune ₹7.8 Lakhs
Chennai ₹7.4 Lakhs

Source

2. Big Data and Data Science

The curriculum of big data certifications emphasizes on building the candidates’ foundational knowledge in the following areas:

  • Overview of data science
  • Mathematical and statistical applications (such as Python and R)
  • Data visualization and using predictive analytics
  • Techniques of classification, clustering, regression, evaluation, anomaly detection, and many others
  • Big data analytics using Hadoop, Spark, Hive, Impala, etc. 

upGrad has three excellent data science certification programs – PG Certification in Data Science, PG Diploma in Data Science, and Master of Data Science. These certifications range from 7 – 18 months, encompassing topics like Python Programming, Predictive Analytics, Machine Learning, Data Visualization, Basic & Advanced SQL, Basic & Advanced Machine Learning Algorithms, and Big Data Analytics. 

After completing such certifications, you’ll be eligible for roles like Data Scientist, ML Engineer, Data Analyst, Product Analyst, Business Analyst, Data Engineer, Product Analyst, and Machine Learning Engineer.

Big Data and Data Science are in demand field because of their significance in the growing industry. Companies today use big data in order to improve their businesses such as to provide better customer experience, and operations, personalise the products, target the customers through marketing campaigns, etc. These actions need to be performed in a quicker manner in order to deliver the results on a real-time basis. Similarly, Data Science is also in huge demand due to the capability it gives businesses to analyse and track the data. Data is the new oil and it begins from one click to the huge sets of data that companies require to track, analsye, and serve their customers. Both Data Science and Big Data Analytics are high-paying careers. The average salary of a data scientist is 10.5 LPA

Data Scientist Salary in India

City Average Annual Salary
Bangalore 15.5 Lakhs
New Delhi 13.6 Lakhs
Mumbai 13.2 Lakhs
Hyderabad 14.8 Lakhs
Pune 12.8 Lakhs
Chennai 13.3 Lakhs
Noida 13.7 Lakhs
Gurgaon 14.1 Lakhs

Source

3. Project Management

The project management scope includes strategic design, project planning, budget management, program implementation, and reporting. Since project management is a crucial component of the business infrastructure, project management certifications have become a popular choice, both among students and professionals.

Project management courses like PG Program in Management and Job Linked Management Program with PGP teach students concepts like Business Growth Strategies, Marketing Strategies, Leadership, Structured Thinking, Problem Solving, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Strategic Thinking, and Time Management and Project Management Skills. 

Usually, such courses offer integrated learning options through live projects, case studies, and industry-partnered content. IT professionals can sign up for a project management certification to advance their careers. Here are some examples of potential job titles:

  • Associate Project Manager
  • Certified Project Manager
  • Certified Project Director
  • Agile Certified Practitioner

Many Project Leads to working in the IT industry also take up certification in product management. These courses typically cover the technicalities of product planning, market research, product development, and user design. If you want to occupy positions like Product Head and Product Marketing Manager, you can look at this option.

like Product Head and Product Marketing Manager, you can look at this option.

The project manager is an upcoming field, which is a chance to get a fat paycheck in tech fields for people coming from a non-tech background. There are certain advantages to project management, such as-

  1. Timeline management
  2. Budget management
  3. Stakeholders satisfaction
  4. Risk Management
  5. Quality Control
  6. Resource Allocations
  7. Documentation

Project Manager Salary in India

City Average Annual Salary
Bangalore ₹18.6 Lakh
Mumbai ₹17.4 Lakh
Hyderabad ₹17.9 Lakh
Chennai ₹17.7 Lakh
New Delhi ₹16.4 Lakh
Pune ₹18.6 Lakh
Gurgaon ₹16.8 Lakh
Noida ₹17.1 Lakh

Source

4. Web Development

If you want to become a web developer or designer, you would need to be well-versed in HTML, CSS, and JS. You can master these languages with the help of online tutorials and pursue online courses to differentiate your candidature for specific job posts. Adobe, Google, Zend, and Microsoft have individual certified tracks for web developers, PHP engineers, and solutions developers. 

Besides development and design, some web development certifications focus on Angular and React training, which entails creating dynamic web pages and UI components. 

Web development courses like PGC in Full Stack Development and PG Diploma in Full Stack Development are two fantastic options for people who wish to master web development. These courses teach candidates to build robust and scalable websites, back-end APIs, and rich and interactive Web UIs.

Students also learn about Data Structures and Algorithms, Java programming best practices, HTML, CSS, Javascript, Object-Oriented Analysis & Design, Object-Oriented Programming, Design Principles, SQL, Oracle, Test-Driven Development, and DOM Manipulation, to name a few. What’s best is that candidates get placement opportunities and job interviews with reputed companies!

Web development is one of the highest-paying careers in the IT world. The Bureau of Labour Statistics has projected the web development industry to grow by 8% from 2019-2029 (Source). There are various types of web applications some of them are mentioned below-

  1. E-commerce Apps
  2. Content Management or CMS Web App
  3. Portal Web Apps

There are big giant companies that recruit web developers such as TCS, Accenture, Wipro, IBM, etc. There is a reason why web development is considered one of the highest paying IT certifications.

Web Developer Salary in India

City Average Annual Salary
Bangalore ₹5.1 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹5 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹4.2 Lakhs
Hyderabad ₹5 Lakhs
Pune ₹4.7 Lakhs
Chennai ₹4.7 Lakhs

Source

5. Software Development

IT professionals looking to enter software development careers should not overlook the importance of having programming dexterity. Some examples of popular and in-demand programming languages are Python, Java, C#, R, SAS, Scala, Swift, JavaScript, and TypeScript. Having professional certifications in multiple programming languages can help you showcase your preparedness for:

  • Writing efficient computer programs, and
  • Building high-quality mobile and web applications. 

upGrad offers a Advanced Certificate Programme in Big Data from IIIT Bangalore.with a special focus on Big Data. Needless to say, this course is extremely relevant to the modern data-driven industry. Data Processing, Data Warehousing, Real-time Processing, Big Data Processing on the Cloud, and Big Data Analytics, are some of the areas covered in this comprehensive course. By completing this course, you’ll be ready to take on roles like Big Data Engineer, Big Data Architect, and Big Data Analyst. 

The Software Development market is expected to grow to 21% by 2028 . Today the software industry has become an indispensable resource as software is required in every field today and this amounts to software development becoming high-paying and in demand. Software development is important because it helps in testing, developing, maintaining, fixing, and securing the applications. 

There is no shortage of big companies recruiting the software developers, such as LinkedIn, Google, Indeed, etc. A software developer gets a good paycheck, the average salary of a software developer is 5.0 LPA and the salary ranges from 2.2 LPA to 12.5 LPA. The developers get more than that as well but there are various contributing factors to it such as their experience, skillsets, projects are undertaken, and upskilling history. 

Also visit upGrad’s Degree Counselling page for all undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

Software Developer Salary in India

City Average Annual Salary
Bangalore ₹15.3 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹15.7 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹11.3 Lakhs
Hyderabad ₹15.1 Lakhs
Pune ₹11.1 Lakhs
Chennai ₹15 Lakhs
Gurgaon ₹15.5 Lakhs
Ahmedabad ₹18.6 Lakhs

Source

6. DevOps

DevOps involves going beyond the traditional practices of software development and infrastructure management. It is concerned with delivering applications and services in a fast-paced setup, thus responding to the demands of the evolving world of tech. Here is a snapshot of the takeaways from a standard DevOps certification:

  • Agile methodology (for integration and deployment of applications)
  • Creation of the Software Development Life Cycle of SDLC
  • SDLC as a process
  • CI/CD pipeline for automating software delivery

Additionally, DevOps comprises multiple tools like Jenkins, Puppet, Docker, Kubernetes, and Chef. So, beginners can opt for distinctive certifications, such as Jenkins Engineer, Puppet System Administrator, Chef Developer, and so on. 

Graduates from Engineering and Computer Science background can opt for PG Diploma in Software Development (DevOps specialization). The course guarantees job interviews and exclusive access to upGrad’s Data Science & Machine Learning content, completely free! Students get to learn about Agile Methodology for Integration & Deployment, Software Lifecycle, SDLC Processes, and CICD Pipeline. Candidates are encouraged to work with more than ten programming languages and tools. On completion, they receive the status of IIIT-B Alumni. 

DevOps market is expected to US$ 37,227 million dollar by 2030.  DevOps facilitates organisations and delivers high-quality products at a faster pace. It

is important to the business environment in today’s age as it provides an environment filled with easy collaboration, faster communication, and integration among the IT teams across the geographies. Big companies like Netflix, Google, Amazon, Flipkart, etc have a robust DevOps ecosystem.

DevOps is considered to be a high-paying career where the average salary of a DevOps Engineer is 6.0 LPA and the salary ranges from the4.2 LPA to 12.2 LPA. The engineers do get higher salaries than this as well owing to their experience, skills, and upskilling.

Source

7. Blockchain 

A Blockchain certification coursework aims to equip tech practitioners with a basic understanding of Blockchain technology, how it functions, and what are its core concepts. Although Blockchain is a relatively new technology, the demand for skilled Blockchain experts is at an all-time high in the present industry.

Short-term certification courses like PG Certificate in Blockchain Technology and Executive Program in Blockchain Technology Management are great for both students and working professionals. Whether you are a fresh engineering graduate or already working in a tech company, you can enroll in a certification program to validate your network administration skills. 

These courses teach you how to approach real-world business problems by thinking like a Blockchain Consultant. You will learn how to use Blockchain tools like Ethereum, Hyperledger, Fabric, Composer, Advance JavaScript, and NodeJS. Also, you will learn how to develop Smart Contracts. 

Blockchain is a highly demanded field where the industry is expected to grow to 163.83 billion by 2029. The reason why the blockchain is in demand is that it gives users to do transactions that are secure and are used for other purposes as well. The industry demand for blockchain developers is BFSI, Healthcare, SCM, etc. Majorly its scope is in the cybersecurity sector to keep the space safe The encryption of data in the blockchain is done through cryptography which eliminates the chances of unauthorized access and malfunctions. 

It is a high-paying field where the average salary of a blockchain developer is 6.5 LPA and the salary ranges from 2.3 LPA to 20.9 LPA. The developers get a salary more than this as well which owes to the developers’ experience, skillset, and upskilling history.

Blockchain Developer Salary in India

City Average Annual Salary
Bangalore ₹7.3 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹15 Lakhs – ₹ 18 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹1.8 Lakh – ₹ 20 Lakhs
Hyderabad ₹11.4 Lakhs
Pune ₹6.9 Lakhs
Chennai ₹6 Lakhs

Source

8. Cloud Computing

Training in cloud computing stresses on building expertise in Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, etc. upGrad’s PG Diploma with specialization in Cloud Computing is a great choice for IT Professionals, Project Leads/Managers, Data Professionals, and Software Developers.

The course that spans for 12 months teaches on matters like Cloud Infrastructure, Services, and Business, Virtualization, Virtual Machines, Microservices, Cloud-Native Applications, and much more. Apart from this, the course includes real-world projects and assignments. 

The common thread of all cloud computing certification programs is cloud development skills. You would generally learn about cloud infrastructure and services in postgraduate level courses, virtual machines, microservices, and non-native applications. With this knowledge, you can qualify for the posts given below.

  • Cloud Engineer
  • Cloud Architect
  • Cloud Software Developer
  • Cloud Administrator

Cloud Computing is expected to grow to USD 791.48 billion in 2028 (Source). With organisations taking the online route, the need to have robust software has become a necessity. Cloud computing has made the response time for companies quicker and more accurate. With the rising trends and growing market, the companies need to respond to the trends quickly to keep up with the market trends. And cloud computing integrates these resources which are available in the span of a few minutes. It is reliable, cost-effective, budget-friendly, and provides efficient storage of data.

It is a high-paying career that provides the cloud engineer with an average salary of 5.4 LPA and the salary ranges between 3.0 LPA to 12.8 LPA. The engineers could get more salary than what is mentioned owing to their experience and upskilling history.

9. Cybersecurity

A cybersecurity certification can supplement your resume’s qualifications with specialized learning in subjects like cryptography, computer networks, and application security. The PG Diploma with specialization in Cybersecurity is a 12-month course that focuses on Application Security, Data Secrecy, Cryptography, Network Security, and other cybersecurity-related concepts and skills. This is an ideal certification for candidates who aspire to be Cybersecurity Expert or Cybersecurity Engineer. 

Software developers, tech managers, testing, and coding professionals find this course of study relevant to their line of work. Those interested in becoming cybersecurity experts or cybersecurity engineers can also earn credentials like CISSP, CISM, CEH, CISA. 

The cybersecurity market is expected to grow to 376.32 billion by 2029. With the advent of the online movement of organisations, the need to protect the data become pertinent. The digital infrastructure of the companies needs to be protected from unauthorised access and security. Cybersecurity is not only important for businesses but also of major importance for the nation as well. Data of all sorts need to be protected from theft and misuse. To protect the data, there is a need for professionals who are skilled in cybersecurity. This domain is important globally and is continuously growing.

Cyber Security Salary Scope in India

City Average Annual Salary
Bangalore ₹11.7 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹10.1 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹12.4 Lakhs
Hyderabad ₹11.4 Lakhs
Pune ₹12.9 Lakhs
Chennai ₹10.5 Lakhs

Source

10. Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence

Leading tech advisory firm Gartner claims that data analytics combined with AI will be paramount in the aftermath of COVID-19. Proactive prediction, preparation, and response to sudden outbreaks and disasters would require the best technological applications. But currently, there is a shortage of talent in the ML and AI space. So, getting a hands-on experience of these concepts can help you accelerate your career. 

Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence Salary Scope in India

City Average Annual Salary
Bangalore ₹10.5 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹9.2 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹8.7 Lakhs
Hyderabad ₹10.2 Lakhs
Pune ₹8.5 Lakhs
Chennai ₹8.8 Lakhs

Source

Advanced certifications are well-suited for professionals having acquaintance with any programming language. upGrad’s PG Diploma in Machine learning and AI and Master of Science in Machine Learning and AI are two such certification courses that can help you master ML and AI concepts. The course curriculum includes a mix of theoretical and practical topics such as Statistics and Exploratory Data Analytics, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Natural Language Processing. Students will also work on Deployment and Capstone projects. Since they’ll learn from the leading instructors and industry experts, they’ll be equipped to enter the real-world right after course completion.

In addition to this, upGrad also offers a coveted certification from the world-renowned IIT Delhi through its Advanced Certificate Programme in Machine Learning spanning 7 months. By dedicating 4 to 6 six hours per week for 30 weeks, students can develop a strong understanding of ML and data mining models and leverage the knowledge to solve real-world problems through useful data insights. In this self-paced learning environment, you interact with top ML faculties from IITD who are committed to providing you a meaningful learning experience. The course covers core data science subjects like Unsupervised Learning, Supervised Learning, Large Scale Machine Learning, Querying and Indexing, Data Streams, and Introduction to Deep Learning. There are also 3 assignments built into the course for hands-on experience in implementing ML algorithms and concepts.

The Artificial Intelligence market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38.1% from 2022 to 2030 (Source).AI and ML are useful for mostly every field such as healthcare, BFSI, marketing, etc. It brings precision, accuracy, and productivity to the industry. With the big data becomes the need to lessen the scope of inaccuracy and this is also where the AI/ ML is helpful as it increases the automation in the operations. In the data-driven models, the AI and ML algorithms quickly analyse the data at a large scale bringing effective results.

This is a high-paying industry, as the ML Engineer procures a salary of 7.3 LPA on average, and the salary ranges between 3.5 LPA to 21.1 LPA. With more scope for upskilling one can increase their salary bracket faster. 

Check out the IIT Delhi courses

Why should you consider IT certifications in the year 2024?

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, doing top IT courses in India has become a valuable and strategic step for professionals seeking to advance their careers and stay relevant. These certifications prove your skills, knowledge, and commitment to continuous learning. Here are several compelling reasons why you should consider pursuing top IT courses in India.

1. Validation of Expertise

Best it courses in India provide third-party validation of your skills and expertise in specific technologies, platforms, or methodologies. They demonstrate to employers and clients that you possess the necessary knowledge to excel.

2. Career Advancement

Many organizations require or prefer candidates with relevant certifications when filling advanced positions. These certifications can open doors to promotions, higher salaries, and increased responsibilities, enabling you to climb the career ladder more swiftly.

3. Industry Recognition

Certifications are often recognized and respected within the industry. They showcase your dedication to staying current with industry trends and best practices, boosting your professional reputation.

4. Competitive Edge

In a competitive job market, certifications can give you an edge over other candidates who lack them. They provide a clear differentiator that can help your resume stand out.

5. Skill Enhancement

Preparing for and obtaining certifications requires in-depth studying and practical experience. This process deepens your understanding of the subject matter and enhances your skills, making you more proficient.

6. Adaptation to Technological Changes

It is a rapidly evolving field with new technologies emerging frequently. Certifications require you to stay up-to-date with the latest developments, ensuring your skills remain relevant and applicable.

7. Global Recognition

Many top IT courses in India are recognized internationally, making them valuable if you want to work in different countries or collaborate on global projects.

8. Client Confidence

For consultants or freelancers, certifications can instill confidence in clients. They can be reassured that you possess the required knowledge to deliver high-quality work.

9. Structured Learning Path

Many certification programs offer a structured curriculum that guides your learning journey. This can be especially helpful if you want to learn systematically and comprehensively.

10. Networking Opportunities

Certification programs often have associated communities, forums, and events where you can connect with fellow professionals, share insights, and learn from others’ experiences.

11. Resume Enhancement

Certifications can significantly bolster your resume, showcasing your professional growth and development commitment. This can be particularly beneficial for those transitioning into the IT field from other industries.

12. Employer Investment

In many cases, employers are willing to sponsor or reimburse the cost of certifications. This underscores their commitment to employee development and can reduce your financial burden.

13. Higher Earning Potential

According to various studies, certified professionals earn higher salaries than their non-certified counterparts. This increase in earning potential can make the certification investment well worth it.

14. Specialization

Best it courses in India often allow you to specialize in areas such as Cybersecurity, cloud computing, data analytics, and more. This specialization can lead to niche roles and exciting opportunities.

15. Personal Fulfillment

Acquiring certifications can be personally fulfilling. It’s a tangible achievement representing your dedication to mastering a particular technology or skill set.

IT certifications benefit your professional growth, marketability, and long-term success. They validate your skills, provide a competitive edge, and keep you current in an ever-changing field. By investing in certifications, you invest in yourself, positioning yourself as a knowledgeable and valuable asset within the IT industry.

Benefits of Certification Courses in IT Sector

These days, Information Technology IT certificate courses have emerged as valuable assets that can significantly contribute to one’s career growth. These certifications serve as a valuable asset to an individual’s expertise and proficiency in specific IT domains while offering a multitude of advantages. Some of the benefits of certification courses in IT sector or best IT courses in demand in India 2023 are as follows: –

  • Validation of Skills and Knowledge

Top IT courses in India or top 10 courses in demand in India 2023 act as a concrete validation of an individual’s skills and knowledge in a particular area of information technology. Employers often seek candidates who possess not only theoretical understanding but also practical expertise.

Certification in IT, such as those from reputable organizations like Cisco, Microsoft, or CompTIA, provides a standardized measure of competence. This validation can be a differentiating factor, giving you a competitive edge in the job market.

  • Enhanced Credibility and Trust

When you hold the best IT courses in India, you instantly become a more credible and trustworthy professional in the eyes of employers. However, these certifications are recognized globally and indicate that you have undergone rigorous training and assessment.

Employers can trust that you have the necessary skills to navigate complex IT certificate courses challenges, making you a reliable asset to their team.

  • Increased Job Opportunities

These highest paying certifications in India significantly expands your job opportunities. Many employers use certifications as a key criterion during the hiring process. Certification courses for IT jobs on your resume can act as a gateway to job interviews and open doors to positions that require specific technical expertise.

Moreover, some roles explicitly demand certain certification in IT, making them essential for career progression.

  • Career Advancement and Promotion

The best IT courses in India are not only beneficial for securing a job but also play a pivotal role in career advancement. As you accumulate the best IT courses in demand in India or plan to take anyone out of the top 10 IT courses in demand in India 2023 and gain experience, you become eligible for higher-level positions within your organization.

Employers are more likely to consider you for promotions or leadership roles if you can showcase a strong foundation of certified skills.

  • Staying Relevant in a Dynamic Industry

The IT industry is known for its rapid evolution, with new technologies emerging regularly. The best IT courses for high salary require continuous learning and updating of skills to maintain relevance. By pursuing certifications, you demonstrate your commitment to staying informed and adapting to the ever-changing landscape.

This proactive approach ensures that you remain valuable to employers in an industry where staying current is paramount.

  • Networking Opportunities

Top IT courses in India or top 10 IT certification courses in demand in India often bring together professionals who are on a similar career trajectory. Participating in these programs not only enhances your knowledge but also provides excellent networking opportunities.

Building connections with fellow certified professionals, trainers, and industry experts can open doors to collaborations, mentorship, and exposure to new career paths.

Future Trends of Computer Jobs in India

India, often referred to as the “Silicon Valley of the East,” has become a key player in the global tech scene. The demand for computer professionals is on a steady rise, fueled by the government’s commitment to digitization and the flourishing startup ecosystem. Experts in the industry predict several future trends in computer jobs in India.

With a laser focus on technology and innovation, the country is witnessing a surge in opportunities for IT best course enthusiasts. As the government paves the way for a digital revolution, the job market for computer professionals is set to expand, offering exciting prospects for those entering the tech workforce. So, let’s talk about the future trends of computer jobs in India.

  • Rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)

The emergence of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning is steering the course of computer jobs. With machines becoming more adept at learning and decision-making, the demand for professionals skilled in AI and ML is on the rise. From developing algorithms to enhancing predictive analytics, this trend opens doors for diverse opportunities.

  • Cybersecurity

As our reliance on digital platforms deepens, the need for safeguarding sensitive information grows exponentially. The field of cybersecurity is witnessing a surge in demand. Professionals adept at thwarting cyber threats and securing networks are becoming indispensable. This trend emphasizes the crucial role of cybersecurity experts in ensuring a safe and protected digital environment.

  • Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is reshaping the way businesses operate and store data. The trend towards cloud-based solutions is creating a demand for professionals with expertise in cloud architecture, deployment, and management. As more companies migrate to cloud platforms, individuals proficient in optimizing and securing cloud infrastructure will be highly sought after.

  • Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things is connecting devices and transforming the way we interact with technology. In India, as IoT gains momentum, there is a growing demand for professionals capable of developing, implementing, and maintaining IoT solutions. This trend not only influences the job market but also plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of smart cities and connected ecosystems.

  • Data Science and Big Data Analytics

Data has become a valuable asset for businesses across industries. The rise of data science and big data analytics is undeniable. Professionals who can analyze vast sets of data to extract meaningful insights are in high demand. This trend underscores the importance of data-driven decision-making in today’s competitive landscape.

  • Remote Work Opportunities

The global shift towards remote work, accelerated by recent events, has become a prominent trend in the job market. Computer jobs are no exception, with an increasing number of roles allowing professionals to work from the comfort of their homes. This trend not only enhances work-life balance but also opens up job opportunities for individuals irrespective of their geographical location.

  • E-commerce and Logistics

As e-commerce platforms flourish, the need for efficient logistics and supply chain management intensifies. This growth extends to last-mile delivery, creating a surge in job opportunities for individuals involved in the intricate dance of moving goods swiftly and seamlessly.

  • Healthcare and Telemedicine

India’s healthcare sector is expanding, with a spotlight on telemedicine. This shift creates a demand for not only medical professionals but also tech-savvy individuals supporting the online health services ecosystem. The marriage of healthcare and technology promises a landscape of diverse job roles.

  • Sustainability and Green Jobs

India’s commitment to environmental sustainability brings forth employment opportunities in eco-friendly construction, waste management, and green energy. These careers align with the global call for a greener and more sustainable future.

  • Manufacturing and Electronics

India’s pursuit of self-reliance in manufacturing and electronics sparks employment opportunities in these sectors. As the nation strives for independence, skilled professionals find their place in the heartbeat of production.

How to Find IT Online Certification Training Courses?

These days, staying updated with the latest information technology trends is crucial for both personal and professional growth. One effective way to enhance your IT skills is by enrolling in online certification training courses. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to find the right best IT courses in demand in India for you:

  • Define Your Goals and Skill Level

Begin by understanding your goals and current skill level. Are you looking to specialize in a specific IT security certifications field, or do you want a general overview? Knowing your starting point and desired destination will help you narrow down your search.

  • Research Reputable Online Platforms

There are numerous online platforms offering IT security certifications courses. Platforms like Coursera, Udacity, edX, and LinkedIn Learning are renowned for their quality content. Research each platform to understand their course structure, instructors, and user reviews.

  • Check Accreditation and Industry Recognition

Ensure that the certification courses for IT jobs you’re considering are accredited and recognized within the IT industry. Certifications from well-respected organizations such as CompTIA, Cisco, Microsoft, and AWS carry weight and are widely acknowledged by employers.

  • Browse Course Catalogs

Explore the course catalogs of chosen platforms. Look for IT best course that aligns with your goals and interests. Most platforms provide detailed information about the course content, prerequisites, and the expected time commitment.

  • Read Reviews and Testimonials

Before committing to a course, read reviews and testimonials from previous learners. This will give you insights into the course’s effectiveness, instructor quality, and overall learning experience. Look for courses with positive feedback and a high completion rate.

  • Utilize Search Engines

Use search engines to find specific courses or certifications. For example, if you’re interested in cybersecurity, search for “best online cybersecurity certification courses.” This targeted approach can help you discover hidden gems that may not be prominently featured on popular platforms.

  • Explore Free Trial Options

Many platforms offer free trial periods for their courses. Take advantage of these trials to assess the course content, teaching style, and platform interface. This hands-on experience will help you make an informed decision before committing to a paid course.

  • Consider Live Instructor-led Courses

Some learners prefer real-time interaction with instructors. Look for platforms offering live, instructor-led courses. This format allows you to ask questions, participate in discussions, and receive immediate feedback, enhancing the overall learning experience.

  • Evaluate Costs and Financial Aid

Compare the costs of different courses and consider any available financial aid or scholarship options. Some platforms offer flexible payment plans or financial assistance, making it more accessible for learners with budget constraints.

  • Plan Your Study Schedule

Once you’ve selected a course, plan your study schedule. Balancing work, family, and other commitments is crucial. Create a realistic timetable to ensure consistent progress without overwhelming yourself.

Essential IT Skills to Master in 2024

A report by the Ministry of Electronics & IT and McKinsey projects India’s digital economy to reach USD one trillion by 2025. On the services front of the economy, the IT sector is also one of the largest contributors to export. According to NASSCOM, the industry is experiencing year-on-year growth of about 7 percent. 

Moreover, the tech industry currently employs a significant chunk of the country’s workforce and is expected to add more jobs in the coming years. Some global IT giants like HCL, Cisco, Accenture, IBM, and TCS hire certified professionals for various prestigious tech roles. 

Here are some of the standard requirements of these careers:

With this, we come to an end of our discussion on the best IT certifications 2024. Each one of these courses is an excellent learning option for beginners and working professionals.

Happy learning! 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are IT certifications in demand and are they worth getting?

A career in IT is in high demand these days. It gives you the flexibility to work from anywhere and earn a good amount of salary. IT certifications are not mandatory to land you a job. However, they do give you an edge over your peers. They convey to the employer that you are proactive and open to continuous learning. More doors of opportunities get open for you once you have an IT certification. With cybersecurity becoming crucial, organisations are looking for people and are investing in people who have specific skills in IT. The future is digital and the IT profession is thriving.

2. What are the job roles in the IT industry?

The job titles in the IT industry vary from one company to another. People with jobs in the industry use software, servers, networks, and other technology to manage and store data. The Cloud computing engineer is one of the most common job titles in the IT industry. They design, operate, and maintain systems and infrastructure. The Computer network specialist and analyst is another job title where the professional designs and develops a variety of data communication networks and systems. Computer support specialists working in the IT industry help organisations evaluate their network systems and ensure their daily operations. Database administrator, information technology analyst, information technology leadership, information security specialist, software developer, and web developer are a few other job roles in the IT industry.

3. What does the IT industry deal with?

The information technology sector deals with software development, providing online services, consultancies and business process outsourcing (BPO). However, the IT industry is influenced by the global market, recession in one country can impact the IT community in the other country. IT is used in business operations, the commercial use of IT includes computer technology as well as telecommunications. The IT department is responsible to ensure that the firm’s systems and applications all function properly.

4. Is an IT certification worth getting?

IT is a growing field and requires the workforce to be equipped with the relevant skillsets. IT is not restricted by the limited scope of opportunities rather it has a wide scope and has applications in almost every domain. And mostly each domain of IT is a well-paying job. Also, this field has significance worldwide meaning that one can make a good career out of this domain in any geography. So, getting an IT certification is a smart step to move ahead toward a successful career.

5. What qualifications do I need to work in IT?

In order to begin a career in IT, employers in India are seeking those candidates who have completed their Bachelor’s either in information technology or computer science, along with that certain relevant certification showcasing the industry relevance of their skillset.

6. Do I need a degree for IT?

In order to do a job no doubt, basic knowledge is important but in order to progress in a job, one should be having a basic degree. Yes, a basic degree is required to enter into the IT field along with that to progress in the career to get promotions, salary hikes, etc basic degree comes handly coupled with constant upskilling.

7. Are IT certifications better than degree?

Degree and Certifications serve different purposes and both of them have their respective value. Degrees help one in getting an understanding of the concept and building the foundation, whereas the certifications help in getting an advanced understanding and building up on the foundations. To the recruiters, both of them matter as they seek professionals who are constantly improving themselves and can help the organsiation with their skillset.

8. How do I start a career in IT?

In order to start a career in IT, the following pat can be followed- Get basic education, Understand which sub-domain of IT interests you, Build skillsets by learning the relevant programming languages and tools, Gain experience , Network, Undertake relevant projects, Keep upskilling

Did you find this article helpful?

Rahul Karthikeyan

He is working as Associate Director of Digital Marketing at upGrad. Apart from marketing he is a crazy and courageous traveler. He has traveled from Kashmir to Kanyakumari through his bike(bullet).

See More

RELATED PROGRAMS

Explore Free Courses



SUGGESTED BLOGS

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
Read More

by Ronnie Screwvala

11 Mar'16
Working Professional’s Need of Staying Relevant

5.55K+

Working Professional’s Need of Staying Relevant

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

by Mayank Kumar

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

5.08K+

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.
Read More

by Dilip Guru

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

898.96K+

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.
Read More

by Mayank Kumar

20 Jun'16
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. But at present only 24% of those meant to be participating in higher education, are actually enrolled. Plus, traditional college or university pedagogy has been increasingly criticized for being outdated and irrelevant to the jobs market. If you attended school or college in India, you will have first-hand experience of the ills that plague the system. Some of the reasons for this are: Absence of a customized or personalized approach to education (necessary as different students have different needs and learning capabilities). Restricted resources due to not-for-profit nature of educational institutes and over-regulation. Lack of technology infrastructure. Poor teaching quality. Lack of skills-based learning. Low focus on research and development. Minimal partnerships with industry/foreign academia. Outdated curricula not reflecting requirements of a dynamic market environment. Skill-intensive industries are expected to contribute more than 90% of India’s GDP by 2030. The opportunity is staring at us in the face. Only about 25% of Indian graduates are considered employable by the organized sector. Further, 48% of Indian employers said they were having difficulty in filling jobs, in 2012. Despite employers expressing difficulty in finding employable candidates, in 2009-10 the unemployment rates in India were higher for those who were more educated (graduates had more difficulty finding jobs than secondary or primary level graduates). [b_color background=”#EDFF3D”] Also Read – Technology will surely kill some jobs, but not all of them [/b_color] So Indian education, in its current form, hasn’t proved to be enough training for the incoming workforce. The numbers also prove that just completing higher education in any field is not all it takes anymore. This pinch is being increasingly felt as the world of jobs is turning upside down; which is why we need skill training. Skill-intensive industries are expected to contribute more than 90% of India’s GDP by 2030. The opportunity is staring at us in the face. It’s not just about the potential but also the responsibility we are tasked with — restoring balance to the global supply of labour. The country needs to invest in skill development and training for a large chunk of its population. Exploiting sheer numbers is therefore one major reason to skill our workers. Secondly, the demand for advanced skill-sets in emerging areas is growing. Knowledge-intensive roles such as finance, business, etc, and those related to information technology and entrepreneurship are gaining momentum. The reality that these skills must be acquired will take root for more and more individuals, including drop-outs from the mainstream education system and those who have completed such education. Currently, the actual supply of these workers falls drastically short of matching growing demand. Hence, the gaps in domain knowledge are another reason to scale up the skilling. You are likely to be at a disadvantage, in terms of skill training and thereby employability, when compared to someone your age in China, USA, South Korea… In China about 47% of the workforce has received some kind of skill training, 52% in USA, 68% in UK, 75% in Germany, 80% in Japan and 96% in South Korea. Comparatively, only about 10% of the Indian workforce received such training in 2008. India is seventh in the category of countries facing maximum difficulty in filling jobs, i.e., 58% difficulty, where the global average is 38%. These figures reflect that just belonging to the young Indian demographic is not enough. You are likely to be at a disadvantage, in terms of skill training and thereby employability, when compared to someone your age in China, USA, South Korea etc. To address these imbalances, India needs unprecedented increase in both education and job creation. At this point, there is no guaranteed advantage for India in the contest for high-skill talent. It will be dependent on skilling. Considering the state of higher education and the skill upgrade required to be carried out in the future, the process will not just be about learning for professionals, but rather unlearning and re-learning.
Read More

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.
Read More

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.
Read More

by Ankit Mittal

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

898.95K+

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

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

by Apoorva Shankar

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

5.13K+

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

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

by Apoorva Shankar

08 Nov'16