10 Best Job-Oriented Short Term Courses Which are In-Demand [updated 2024]

Updated on 13 April, 2024

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27 min read
Best Job-Oriented Short Term Courses

Summary:

In this article, you will learn the 10 Best Job-Oriented Short-Term Courses which are In-Demand in 2024. Take a glimpse below.

  1. Product Management Certification Program 
  2. Business Analytics Certification Program
  3. PG Certification in Full Stack Development
  4. Certified Financial Planner Certificate Course
  5. Certificate Course in Finance Accounting and Taxation
  6. Advanced Certificate Program in Data Science
  7. Advanced Certificate in Machine Learning and NLP
  8. Advanced Certificate in Blockchain Technology
  9. Advanced Certificate in Digital Marketing and Communication
  10. PHP Certification

Read the full article to know more in detail. 

Looking for Short term job-oriented courses?

Getting a job is tough, and more so, in this economy.

There’s cut-throat competition for everything. But if you can get an edge over your peers, you can quickly get the high-paying jobs available in the market. Also, many free courses are available in the market which help you to get the right job as per your career interests.

Since attaining and keeping a job is getting harder due to the raging competition, it is essential to upskill to stay relevant in the industry. Short-term job-oriented courses after the 12th are specialized courses created to upskill individuals with prominent skill-based knowledge demanded to survive in the current competitive market. Short-term job-oriented courses after the 12th help achieve a definite career path without going through expansive bachelor’s or master’s courses. These short-term courses with high salaries after the 12th emphasize developing skills and can extend countless job opportunities to learners if they are dedicated to upskilling. 

Short-term job-oriented courses after the 12th with high salaries will give you an edge. You get to choose what you want to learn, and they equip you with the latest skills. Moreover, you also get to learn a whole lot more about the industry you take an interest in, with the help of these courses. Let’s learn more about short-term courses.

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

What Are Job Oriented Courses?

Job-oriented courses are educational programs specifically designed to equip you with the practical skills, knowledge, and training needed to fulfill particular job roles or industries. If you are wondering which course is best to get job easily, opting for job oriented short term courses is the best way forward. 

They focus on teaching practical skills needed for specific careers by giving hands-on learning experiences related to real work situations. Designed for various industries like technology, healthcare, or business, these courses offer simulations, projects, and interactive exercises to help students learn important tools and methods used in those fields. 

These programs offer certifications demonstrating the participant’s mastery of industry-level skills and, hence, are deemed the best courses to restart career. This makes it easier for students to find jobs in their chosen career areas. 

Some courses that offer immediate jobs help people learn job-specific skills and get recognized qualifications. This makes them job-ready on the go, eliminating the need for training later.

Why Take Job Oriented Courses?

It’s natural to have some doubts. Everyone does. You might wonder why you should take professional job-oriented courses like Java, Full-stack development, etc.

First of all, they give you an edge over your competition. You get to take control of your learning journey as you get to choose which course you’ll take. 

Here are some other advantages to taking professional courses. 

1. Get High-Paying Jobs

The market has many high-paying jobs, and you need the skill to get them. Every company is looking for talented individuals for different technical roles. They look for skills that are not present in a traditional curriculum. Professional courses like Python, Business Analytics, Cloud Computing, Blockchain, etc with high salaries can help you gain financial freedom quickly. 

Taking job-oriented courses in Full-stack development, digital marketing, and data science, etc can help you learn these skills. This way, you’d be able to seize the opportunity whenever it presents itself.

For example, blockchain developers are earning up to 45 lakhs per annum in India. The demand for these skills is sky-high, but the supply of professionals is meagre. These types of short-term courses are in high demand in 2024. When you are taking job-oriented courses, make sure you have a passion for it. 

2. Hands-on Knowledge

If you take your professional short-term courses from a reputed and reliable provider, you’ll get to try out your knowledge on real-life projects as well.

Trying out your knowledge in real projects will help you in finding out where you stand and what are your weaknesses. Professional job-oriented courses come with multiple projects where you can test your expertise. The constant support from a mentor also helps you in making fast progress. The short term course should provide hands-on on current technologies. 

3. Unlock More Opportunities

When you learn a brand-new skill, you open up more opportunities for your career. You can enter sectors that you couldn’t think about applying for just a while ago. 

For instance, if you’re a graduate with a non-tech degree, you might think that getting a job in the tech sector is impossible (or highly improbable).

These short term courses help you get the experience you need to enter new sectors. If you want to switch careers or get into a fast-growing industry, taking a course would be very beneficial.

4. Networking Opportunities

Short-term job-oriented courses after 12th save you time while also strengthening your communication skills. Strong communication skills will help you broaden your network, allowing you to make crucial industry connections that can drastically change your career for the better.

Networking brings along several personal and professional benefits, fueling individuals toward overall development. For example, working in a professional space can turn easier if you know your way with words, hence, making job-oriented short-term courses to be highly advantageous for early and mid-career professionals.

Today, multiple platforms offer well-structured short-term courses to help candidates move ahead in their careers. We have created a list of the best certification courses that beginners and professionals aiming to upskill can opt for.

5. Quick skill development

These courses are designed to provide focused and practical skills required for specific job roles. Moreover, they offer intensive training in a short period, allowing individuals to acquire new skills quickly and efficiently so that they are ready to do job in the desired field.

Students can swiftly gain new skills by concentrating on the essential skills needed in a particular industry or profession. Regarded as some of the best short term courses, these programs are designed to enhance the learning process and focus on the most crucial aspects needed for the job. They are also key to enabling individuals to become proficient in a shorter period compared to traditional academic programs.

6. Improved employability

Job-oriented courses are tailored to meet the demands of the job market, ensuring that individuals gain relevant skills and knowledge that employers are actively seeking. This enhances their employability and increases their chances of finding a job.

Employers often value candidates with specific, job-ready skills obtained from these job oriented courses, increasing the likelihood of securing a job in their desired field. Candidates with these certifications showcase their commitment to learning and acquiring practical skills, making them more attractive to employers seeking candidates ready to contribute immediately. 

With a shorter learning curve, they require less training and can quickly apply their knowledge in the workplace, saving employers time and resources. These are regarded as the best courses to restart career because they offer a competitive edge in a crowded job market. They aid in equipping candidates with hands-on expertise that directly meets employer requirements, thereby significantly improving their chances of landing a job in their desired field.

7. Career switch or advancement

For those looking to change careers or advance in their current field, short-term courses can provide the necessary skills and knowledge for the transition. This allows individuals to explore new career paths or move up the ladder in their current profession.

These easy job courses additionally offer an opportunity to acquire new skills or specialized knowledge required for a different job role. These courses provide a more direct route for those looking to transition into a new industry or explore different career paths. Similarly, for individuals already established in a profession, these courses offer a chance to upskill or specialize, enabling them to progress further in their career trajectory.

8. Cost-effectiveness

Compared to traditional degree programs, short-term courses are generally more affordable. They offer value for money by focusing on specific skills and knowledge, which is particularly attractive for individuals looking to upskill without committing to lengthy and expensive educational programs.

These job oriented courses provide targeted and practical learning, allowing individuals to quickly acquire in-demand skills and stay competitive in the job market without undertaking the extensive duration or costs associated with traditional degrees. 

This value-for-money aspect makes short-term courses a favorable option for those aiming to advance their careers or enter new fields more swiftly and economically.

9. Flexibility

Short-term courses often have flexible schedules, including part-time and online options. This flexibility allows individuals to pursue education while juggling other responsibilities, such as work or family commitments.

It enables individuals to pursue education without disrupting their existing routines or obligations. Part-time or online job oriented short term courses allow learners to study at their own pace and schedule, making it more convenient to balance learning with other aspects of their lives. 

This flexibility is particularly advantageous for working professionals or individuals with busy schedules, as it offers an accessible way to gain new skills or qualifications without having to put their other responsibilities on hold.

10. Industry relevance

Job-oriented courses are developed in collaboration with industry experts and professionals. As a result, the curriculum is up-to-date and aligned with current industry trends and practices, making graduates more relevant to employers.

By staying closely aligned with industry needs, graduates from these courses acquire skills and knowledge that are immediately applicable and relevant to the evolving job market. This real-time relevance makes these graduates more appealing to employers, as they possess the most recent and sought-after expertise required for various job roles. 

The direct input from industry professionals ensures that the course content remains practical, relevant, and directly applicable to the challenges and demands of the workplace. They should aim to enhance graduates’ readiness to contribute effectively from the outset of their employment.

11. Skill enhancement for entrepreneurs

For aspiring entrepreneurs, short-term courses can offer valuable skills in areas such as marketing, finance, or project management. This can increase their chances of running a successful business.

For instance, the best short term courses in marketing might cover strategies for branding, digital marketing techniques, and customer acquisition strategies. Learning these skills enables entrepreneurs to effectively promote their products or services, reach target audiences, and build a strong brand presence, which is pivotal for business success in today’s competitive landscape.

Likewise, some of the best non IT courses in demand are finance courses. These programs help provide insights into budgeting, financial statements, and investment decisions, which are crucial for business sustainability. Project management courses are also regarded as one of the best job oriented courses because they enable entrepreneurs to plan efficiently, handle tasks, and achieve business goals.

Acquiring skills from these courses equips entrepreneurs to navigate business complexities, implement strategies, and drive overall growth.

12. Confidence boost

Learning specific skills and gaining knowledge can boost an individual’s confidence in their abilities. This newfound confidence can positively impact job interviews, work performance, and career progression.

During job interviews, individuals with a strong grasp of relevant skills and knowledge tend to convey confidence in their abilities. They can articulate their expertise, experiences, and how they can add value to a prospective employer and make a good first impression.

Moreover, this confidence in their abilities translates into improved work performance. They are more inclined to take initiative, solve problems, and contribute innovative ideas, often translating to increased productivity and success in their job responsibilities.

Additionally, confidence gained from learning specific skills can significantly impact career progression. Individuals who continuously seek to enhance their knowledge and skill set are often more motivated to take on new challenges and opportunities for growth.

13. Lifelong learning

Short-term courses promote a culture of continuous learning. Individuals who complete such courses are more likely to seek further education and professional development throughout their careers, ensuring they stay updated with evolving industry trends.

Completing short-term courses often exposes individuals to new concepts, innovations, and best practices within their industries. This exposure can spark a desire to delve deeper into specific subjects or explore related areas, prompting individuals to seek further education or specialized training to expand their expertise.

Moreover, the fast-paced nature of industries, especially in fields like technology, business, and healthcare, demands continuous learning to stay relevant. Individuals who have experienced the benefits of short-term courses understand the importance of lifelong learning to remain competitive and advance their careers in rapidly evolving professional landscapes.

Points to Keep in Mind While Opting for Short-Term Job-Oriented Courses

When considering job-oriented courses, there are several essential points to remember to ensure that you make the right decision for your career and professional growth. Here are some key points to consider:

1. Identify Your Goals

Clearly define your career goals and identify the skills or knowledge gaps hindering your progress. Choose a course that aligns with your career aspirations and helps you acquire the necessary skills for your desired job role.

Understanding your goals helps in selecting the best course for job. It precisely addresses these requirements, ensuring it’s a stepping stone toward your career aspirations.

2. Course Relevance

Research the course thoroughly to ensure its relevance in the current job market. Look for courses that are in demand and have a track record of providing graduates with job opportunities.

Analyze job listings or industry reports to identify areas with job opportunities. The latest courses for jobs are usually aligned with these trends and are more likely to provide you with a competitive edge in the job market upon completion.

3. Credibility of the Institution

Choose courses offered by reputable and accredited institutions. Check the institution’s reputation, reviews, and success stories of previous students who completed the course.

When it comes to choosing the ideal courses with placement, consider factors such as faculty expertise, infrastructure, industry connections, and the institution’s track record in producing successful graduates.

4. Course Curriculum

Review the course curriculum to understand the topics and skills covered. Ensure it addresses the skills you want to develop and provides practical training and hands-on experience.

While choosing professional courses with job placement, ensure that the course content matches your objectives and career goals. Practical elements such as case studies, projects, and workshops are invaluable for hands-on learning and skill development.

5. Industry Recognition

Check if the course is recognized or endorsed by industry associations or employers. Industry-recognized certifications can add value to your resume and improve your job prospects.

Such recognition signifies that the course content meets industry standards and covers essential skills and knowledge required in the field. These are regarded as some of the best job oriented courses because the certifications obtained from these courses are valued by employers, making them more impactful on resumes. Seek courses with endorsements or affiliations with recognized industry organizations, as these certifications can significantly enhance your employability and open doors to job opportunities within your chosen field.

6. Instructors and Faculty

Look into the qualifications and experience of the instructors and faculty members who will be teaching the course. Experienced and knowledgeable instructors can significantly impact the quality of your learning experience.

Research their qualifications, professional backgrounds, and teaching methods. Instructors who have worked extensively in the industry can offer real-world examples, case studies, and connections that enrich the learning experience. This provides students with a deeper understanding of how theoretical concepts apply in practical scenarios.

7. Practical Training

Ensure that the course offers practical training and real-world projects that allow you to apply your learning skills. Practical experience is crucial in building confidence and competence in a job-oriented course.

The experiences from these easy job courses allow students to apply what they’ve learned in real-world situations, gaining valuable skills and confidence. Practical training also provides exposure to industry practices, work environments, and challenges, preparing students for the demands of their future careers.

Having practical experience not only enhances learning but also makes individuals more attractive to potential employers, as they come equipped with applicable skills from day one on the job.

Best Short-term Job-Oriented Courses

The demand for product managers has surged in the past few years. Companies need product managers so they can ensure the success of their launches and maintain steady growth.

This 5-month long short term course by upGrad includes over 160 hours of learning and training. But the catch is that you can learn at your preferred pace and convenience. It has experts from Zomato, PayTM, Myntra, and many other leading companies. After completing the course, you get certification from Duke Corporate Education faculty, which is one of the leading global corporate educators. These types of job oriented courses help you reap a good ROI.

Source

Apart from personalized resume-building sessions with trained mentors, you get placement assistance as well – there are more than 250 recruiting partners to hire candidates after course completion. If you are looking for best short term courses to update your profile, this is a course you should consider.

Course Duration: 6 Months

Category Details
Program Name Post Graduate Certificate in Product Management
Offered By Duke Corporate Education and UpGrad
Duration 6 months
Learning Format Online with live sessions and case studies
Key Features 30+ live sessions, 6+ personalized industry sessions, 1:1 mentorship, BYOP project, 3 years unlimited content access
Instructors Industry experts from top companies like Google and Microsoft
Eligibility Open to participants with varying levels of work experience
Support 24/7 student support with dedicated industry mentors and timely doubt resolution
Career Services Focus on career transition and advancement with extensive networking opportunities

This 3-month long short term course by upGrad is specially designed for Analytics aspirants. It includes more than 100 hours of training with 3+ case studies and projects. The top skills that you will learn in this course include Statistics & Optimisation, Predictive Modelling, Machine Learning, and Business Problem Solving, among other things.

The best part is that students get one-on-one mentorship and feedback from certified trainers and instructors. Plus, they get to work on various workshops for hands-on experience. This is one of the best short term courses available for business analytics. 

After completing this short term course, you’ll be qualified to apply for roles like Business Analyst, Data Analyst, and other Managerial positions in the Analytics domain.

Course Duration: 3 Months

Category Details
Program Name Business Analytics Certification Program
Offered By UpGrad
Duration 3 months
Learning Format Online with live sessions and case studies
Key Features 100+ hours of Learning, 3+ Case Studies & Projects, Timely Doubt Resolution, Live Sessions with Industry Experts, AI Powered Profile Builder, Exclusive Job Opportunities Portal
Instructors Industry experts with practical experience in fields such as data science and business analysis
Eligibility Open to professionals from various sectors including IT, finance, marketing, and more
Support 24/7 student support, expert feedback on assignments, personalized mentorship
Career Services Extensive networking opportunities with industry leaders, and access to a wide network of alumni

Since we are talking about short-term job-oriented courses, we cannot miss out on this unique placement track in Full Stack Development offered by upGrad. It is incredibly challenging to find certification/training programs that supports job placement after completion.

But lucky for you, upGrad has created a program that is completely centered around the placement of its students in entry-level software roles. The industry-influenced training helps you gain coding fundamentals & MERN stack skills along with complete placement support.

This 5-month online full-time program is a short-term offering by upGrad, designed to improve the employability of first-time job seekers into software domain.

Source

The Program will provide practical hands-on experience through working on up to 7 projects acquiring skills of how to build robust and scalable websites and create rich backend APIs and interactive web UI. Regular employability tests and mock interviews help you acknowledge your areas of improvement. Curated relevant placement opportunities will be shared to provide you with a comfortable job search.

Course Duration: 5 Months

*upon successful completion of the program

  • Certified Financial Planner Certificate Course

The Certified Financial Planner (CFP) credential is one of the most renowned and respected global certifications in the world. This is one of the best short term courses available related to finance. It is exclusively designed for aspirants who seek to demonstrate their commitment and competence in ethical financial planning practice.

In India, the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification is issued by FPSB India. Today, aspirants can avail the CFP certificate course in almost all the major cities across India, including Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune, and New Delhi.

Usually, the duration of this short-term course is around six weeks during which you will learn about various planning methodologies such as financial planning, insurance planning, retirement planning, investment planning, tax preparation, and estate planning, to name a few.

  • Certificate Course in Finance Accounting and Taxation

The Certificate Course in Finance Accounting and Taxation is a certification program for candidates who have successfully obtained their graduate degree in B.Com/BBI/BAF or other equivalent fields. The course duration may range anywhere from 1 to 6 months, varying from one institution to another. It is an excellent choice for those looking to build a career in accounting.

As the name suggests, this program is specific to the accounting and taxation industry. So, candidates are taught the fundamental concepts of accounting, taxation, auditing, and financial management as well.

Read: Career options in science after graduation

Data Science is the latest tech trend that has taken the industry by storm. Companies and organizations, irrespective of their trade, are adopting Data Science tools, technologies, and solutions to promote innovation, increase productivity, boost sales, and maximize customer satisfaction. 

At upGrad, we realize the tremendous potential of Data Science skills in the present market, and hence, we’ve created the Advanced Certificate in Data Science program. Anyone interested in pursuing a Data Science career can enroll in this certification program. There are no strict requirements, except that you must have a bachelor’s degree. The program duration is five months.

In this professional job-oriented short-term course, you will obtain detailed knowledge of Statistics, Predictive Analytics using Python, Machine Learning, Data Visualisation, and other related Data Science and ML concepts. Once you receive the certification, you can apply for promising Data Science job roles like Data Analyst, Product Analyst, Business Analyst, and Machine Learning Engineer.

Useful read, Career options in medical

Category Details
Program Name Post Graduate Certificate in Data Science & AI (Executive)
Offered By UpGrad in association with IIIT Bangalore
Duration 8 months
Key Features – Explore 7+ Case Studies and Industry Projects- Immerse in 300+ Hours of Online Learning Content- Mock Interviews with Hiring Managers- Hassle-free, No Cost EMI Options Available- Exclusive Job Portal and AI Profile Builder
Eligibility University will shortlist based on profile
Support 24/7 student support, Career mentorship Sessions (1:1), Just-in-Time Interviews
Career Services Dedicated career assistance, including mock interviews with hiring managers, Access to exclusive job portal

Machine Learning and NLP are two fast-emerging technologies with high demand in the industry. Naturally, you will be a hot asset for potential employers if you possess domain knowledge and skills in these Data Science fields.

upGrad’s Advanced Certificate in Machine Learning and NLP is a 6-month long short-term course that is perfect for Machine Learning aspirants. The course will teach pivotal ML and NLP concepts, including Named Entity Recognition, Hidden Markov Models, Bag of words, Topic Modelling, and Information Extraction, to name a few. You will be trained by leading industry experts and Data Science mentors from reputed companies like Gramener, Zee5, Actify, and Pitney Bowes. This is one of the best job-oriented courses if you want to lead the AI-driven technological revolution.

As part of the upGrad learning program, with this job-oriented course, you will connect with peers, collaborate with them on projects and assignments, engage in one-on-one interactive discussions with mentors, and obtain personalized feedback on your progress.

You can also check our Machine Learning Program from IIT Delhi. IIT Delhi is one of the most prestigious institutions in India. With more the 500+ In-house faculty members which are the best in the subject matter.

Category Details
Program Name Post Graduate Certificate in Machine Learning & NLP (Executive)
Offered By UpGrad in association with IIIT Bangalore
Duration 8 months
Format Online, designed for working professionals
Key Features – 250+ hours of learning- 5+ industry projects, case studies, and assignments- Career mentorship and high performance coaching- AI Powered Profile Builder- Exclusive Job opportunities Portal
Eligibility Bachelor’s degree
Instructors Courses delivered by leading ML & AI faculty from IIITB and industry leaders
Career Services Dedicated student support, career bootcamps, just-in-time interviews
Programming Languages and Tools Covered Extensive use of Python, SQL, Excel, and tools like Git for version control

Like Data Science and Machine Learning, Blockchain technology is also creating ripples of change in modern industry. After transforming the BFSI sector, Blockchain technology has made its way into numerous other fields, including healthcare, real estate, supply chain & logistics, FMCG, transportation, and even government agencies. This is what makes Blockchain one of the most in-demand tech skills right now. This is one of the short term courses with a high salary. 

If you wish to acquire Blockchain skills and gain in-depth knowledge about how this technology works, upGrad’s Advanced Certificate in Blockchain Technology is just the perfect short-term course you need. This is a 6-month long program that covers all the core Blockchain concepts like Ethereum, Hyperledger, Smart Contracts, Fabric, Composer, Advance JavaScript, and NodeJS. Apart from gaining theoretical knowledge, you will also work on live projects and case studies. The best part is the course taught by top-notch instructors from IIIT-B, DCB Bank, IBM, and Bankchain. 

As is true of all upGrad courses, you will engage in personalized resume-building sessions. You can also participate in annual offline workshops conducted by upGrad. What’s more, even after course completion, you can access the learning content for three years. 

Course Duration: 6 Months

With the rapid expansion of Digital Marketing, the face of marketing has changed drastically. Today, Digital Marketing is omnipresent – it is a truth you can no longer ignore! So, why not gear up for the present digital revolution and acquire Digital Marketing skills?

For all Digital Marketing aspirants, upGrad has created a comprehensive course – Advanced  Certificate in Digital Marketing and Communication. Digital marketing job-oriented courses are for someone who wants to get an edge in digital marketing. The course covers topics like SEO, SEM, Social Media and Content Marketing, Branding, and Marketing Analytics. You will build your practical skills by working with more than 20 Digital Marketing tools on 15 case studies and live projects.

On completion of the certification program, you will not only receive the MICA alumni status but also get dual certifications, one from MICA and the other from Facebook. The certification will equip you for job roles like Digital Marketing Manager, SEM Manager, SEO Specialist, Social Media, and Content Manager.

Category Details
Program Name Advanced Certificate in Digital Marketing and Communication
Offered By MICA, The School of Ideas in association with UpGrad
Duration 6.5 to 11 months, depending on the track and specializations chosen
Learning Format Online, with flexible access across devices
Key Features – 200+ hours of learning- Choice of 5 specializations- Hands-on projects with real-world applications- 100% online with live mentoring sessions
Career Services – Dedicated career support- Networking opportunities with industry experts- Access to an exclusive job portal
Eligibility Bachelor’s degree with recognition of prior learning considered for professionals
Specializations Available Performance Marketing, Social Media and Content Marketing, Marketing Analytics, Branding & Communication, and more
Admission Process Fill out an application form, get shortlisted, and secure your seat by paying the admission fee
Certification Advanced Certificate from MICA with additional certifications for chosen specializations
Industry Projects Includes real-world projects and case studies from companies like Facebook, Star India, and Zivame
Tools Covered Google Ads, Google Analytics, Facebook Advertising, and other digital marketing tools
  • PHP Certification

Like Full Stack Development, PHP Development is yet another hot skill in the present market. Naturally, the demand for skilled and certified PHP Developers is high. While knowledge of JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and MySQL can only get you so far, a PHP certification can help you gain a competitive edge over your contemporaries.

The prerequisite for this certification program is that you should have some knowledge of PHP and MySQL. When you take up a PHP certification program, you will learn PHP skills of all levels – beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The program will help you build your PHP skills from the ground up. You will learn the basics of PHP, including Syntax, Operators, Variables, Control Structures, Namespaces, Extensions, Config, Language Constructs and Functions, and much more. You can pick up job-oriented courses related to PHP, if you like building websites and applications. 

Getting a PHP certification will help formalize your domain knowledge. It will be proof of your competency. Plus, it will help you bag promising job roles with a high average annual compensation.

Post Graduate Certification in Software Engineering

upGrad’s job-linked PG certification course is one of the best certification courses in the market, equipping learners with a broad range of trending skills, created to keep up with the changing market demand while assuring placement opportunities on course completion.

With a majority of engineering graduates being devoid of industry-relevant courses and skills, this certification course delivers in-demand knowledge of tools, and concepts engineers can actually work with to create unprecedented value out of their work. upGrad’s course offers two specializations – MERN and Cloud-native. 

This course invites final-year engineering applicants and unemployed learners seeking better opportunities, providing them with skills such as JAVA, Spring Boot, SQL, Cloud-Native, MERN, AWS, and Microservices. The course duration is 5 months, allowing students the flexibility to learn according to their schedule and convenience. So, it is a great choice for working professionals.

Wrapping Up

Hope you found our list of short term courses useful. Whether you’re a student or a working professional, you won’t have trouble following these courses. All of these short term courses are delivered by best-in-class instructors and trainers who can guide you every step of the way. Before selecting any job-oriented courses, one only needs to be clear about their goal, know which path to take, and preserve in order to make the best of that opportunity.

Among various such platforms extending job-oriented learning opportunities, upGrad proves to be one of the best platforms for short-term certification courses for ladies designed specifically keeping the present-day requirements in mind. The platform has a variety of courses with additional mentorship and doubt resolution support to help students align on the right career path. 

For individuals aiming to find short-term courses with a high salary after the 12th or simply wish to strengthen their resume, upGrad has something for every learner. upGrad courses are crafted under the expert guidance of faculty and industry leaders to help shape future leaders. 

Talk to our student advisor if you need more information and guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the advantages of hands-on knowledge?

Over traditional education, hands-on learning methods have several advantages. While pursuing education, it is difficult to leave your textbooks and come out of your traditional lecture methods. There are several programs today where you can learn the basics of the hands-on learning program. Career and certification courses are prominent ways to build your analytical and practical skills. Moreover, you can apply these skills in your real life too. One of the other advantages of hands-on learning is the help from industry experts and faculty. Students get the freedom and responsibility with hands-on learning to experience real-life scenarios. 81% of high school dropouts confirm that real-world learning opportunities are better than lectures and textbooks.

2. Why should you go for short-term courses?

Short-term courses offer an upper hand and a competitive edge to upskill yourself with the latest trends and technologies. No matter where you are in life, you should never give up on education and must always keep learning. Depending on the area you wish to gain expertise in, you can take up the courses accordingly. This is precisely where short-term career-oriented courses are helpful. To begin with, these courses are inexpensive compared to full-time courses. Secondly, short-term courses are beneficial when a professional is stuck in their career and cannot decide or plan their next move. The next benefit is the knowledge of various programming languages you can acquire with the certifications.

3. Can job-oriented short-term courses replace college degrees?

The factors vary from one person to another. Your future requirements and study plan will help determine the profession you wish to choose. With a college degree, you get exposed to job opportunities that employers are looking for. However, with job-oriented short-term courses, you can acquire knowledge about the latest technologies that the market needs. College is expensive, and based on how you plan to take your career forward, you can make a wise decision. Both of these will help you in the long term.

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Kamal Jacob

Kamal is an experienced Online marketing consultant with a high degree of expertise in SEO, Web Analytics, Content/Technical planning and marketing.

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

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

5.54K+

Working Professional’s Need of Staying Relevant

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

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

5.07K+

Google I/O 2016 – Day 1 | Recap

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

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

898.94K+

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

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

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

6.57K+

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

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

13 Jul'16
7 reasons to watch UpGrad Talks today

5.19K+

7 reasons to watch UpGrad Talks today

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

06 Aug'16
Evolving online education: Learning Together

5.36K+

Evolving online education: Learning Together

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

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

898.95K+

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

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

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

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

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

08 Nov'16