Blogs

10195

We at UpGrad have always stressed simplifying the convoluted routes of great careers for India’s talented youth. Now, we are launching our new “internship guarantee” initiative for recent graduates. According to Aspiring Minds’ National Employability Report 2017, currently, only 5% of engineering graduates are employable in software companies. These software companies can be subdivided into two major types – IT services outsourcing firms (TCS, Infosys, HCL, etc.) or technology product companies (Uber, Flipkart, Paytm and many more). Historically, Indian software talent has found jobs in IT services firms. But with the recent churn happening due to geopolitical factors and automation, these jobs are drying out. Instead, there is a growing demand for full-stack developers in technology product companies.   But a majority of Indian engineering colleges have failed to equip their students with  product-centric thinking and the creativity required to become good full-stack developers. Graduates from these colleges then join the labor force doing jobs that don’t help them realize their true potential. The number of opportunities available in the tech industry is not limited. The path is open to procure a job in the IT field, software, cybersecurity, front-end development, back-end development, full-stack development, scrum master internship in India etc. Before applying for any internship, the job seekers must be prepared with a basic or foundational knowledge of the domain they want to apply the job for. Some technical skills such as programming languages or tools must have been brushed up with. This would allow one to gain better confidence from the employer and serve well during one’s tenure as an intern. Why Companies are Looking to Hire Full Stack Developers This is why we have decided to provide an internship guarantee initiative to help recent graduates to get into cutting-edge, full-stack development internships at product companies. Here are some of the many benefits associated with getting an internship in tech product companies: Learning by doing Internships are different compared to learning by self. Without even taking accountability for the success or failure of a project, one can understand the complete life cycle of the product from design development, as well as deployment and maintenance. During an internship, you could get the opportunity to work with the best minds and get hands-on experience working on the latest technologies such as Python, Django, Spring, Reactjs, Nodejs, etc. With more time invested during performing the task and better understanding, you will be able to build on the theoretically learnt concepts. Various applications of tools and languages in different settings would become much more apparent.  This would positively impact confidence, and as a novice confidence is what everyone yearns for. The skills would get more polished. Moreover, the projects, tasks or languages that one would use during their tenure at the internship could be put into the CV.  The value addition on the CV would result in better chances of procuring a job due to enhanced skill sets. Edge over competition Getting hands-on full-stack development experience itself is a big benefit. It’s one thing to learn the concepts of full-stack development, it’s another (way more important) to actually do some coding. Employers value experience and the more experience you have in this field, the better chances of them hiring you. The internship would get practical hands-on experience and develop the hard and soft skills that are important in the workplace. As someone starting out in their career, professionals seek a differentiating factor that sets them apart from other job seekers. The employers look for certain skill sets and some experience from the professionals. Professionals having the experience of internship reflect a certain image to their employers that are appealing. The positive impression allows the employers to prefer the job seekers having the experience. Right signaling Managing to land an internship is proof to yourself that you are on the right path – you get rewarded for your efforts and gain recognition. It boosts your confidence. Besides that, you get a deep insight into how a company is actually run, the workflow, the customer interaction, and your interaction with your team leader and manager; equipping you with a lot of practical knowledge, very early, sometimes before your career has even begun! Having experience of an internship becomes a mind opener for the professional. As it gives a broader perspective and a much closer understanding of the work. Moreover, while working as an intern, there is room to interact with colleagues to build a practical understanding of the career trajectory. Young professionals come in a better position to chart out their career roadmap. Training ground for jobs Hiring a new full-stack development resource from scratch is a time-consuming process. Working as an intern, helps recruiters to assess an individual over a longer period, enabling better-informed hiring from both sides. Sometimes the internship gets converted into a full-time job offer guided by various factors such as good performance during the internship. The company find it less cumbersome to train employee that has worked as an intern.  Fresh perspective Internships can benefit not only the intern but also the organization. Interns bring a fresh and unbiased perspective. Young interns are generally tech-savvy and enthusiastic about solving tough problems. Having a new addition to the team is always a boon as having people coming from different backgrounds and experiences brings diversity. This diversity is not only cultural diversity but also diversity of ideas.  This allows the organisation to approach a problem with a fresh perspective rather than the established perspective of the existing employees.  The interns bring a can-do attitude that becomes motivating for the existing employees as well. During the meetings, they bring innovative, youthful and creative ideas that help the company in overcoming serious challenges as well. Finishing touch Last but not the least, you can work on improving your skills as a developer, while working as an intern. You learn about the life cycle of a program, what it takes to create one from scratch, to maintain and upgrade another, etc. One of the major takeaways of doing an internship in a growing start-up is that you learn things at a very fast pace. You learn to collaborate with teams and develop products end-to-end. Startup gives a scope to the intern to take on more responsibilities that allow them to learn more skill sets. The cross-team collaboration aids in acquiring diverse skill sets that develop soft skills. How to Succeed in Your First Software Development Job More than 1000 software development internships are available in India at any point in time. The path to a full-stack job is easier via an internship. Around two-thirds of these interns go on to get a job in software development firms. Software development hosts a wide range of opportunities that not only paves the way for a successful career but also provides high compensation.  On average software developer procures pay of 5.0 lakhs per annum. On average the compensation ranges from 2.2 lakhs per annum to 12.6 lakhs per annum (Source). The compensation may vary depending upon various factors such as skill set, experience, location, company, etc. Then why do we see graduates still looking out for jobs and not applying for these internships? The answer lies in the skill-set gap. The skills which are required for the candidate to succeed in the internship selection process are not the same as those which Indian colleges focus on equipping students with. This is where IIIT Bangalore & UpGrad’s comprehensive PG Diploma in Software Development Program can be a differentiator for your career. We will not only teach you the fundamentals of full-stack development and conceptual topics like algorithms and data structures but also give you real and live project experience on industry-relevant problems, before you are ready for the internship selections. How to Become a Full Stack Developer How can I apply for UpGrad’s Internship Initiative? Register now for your free career counselling session and our senior program manager – Mr. Utkarsh Prasad (IIM – Bangalore, IIT – Kharagpur) will directly get in touch with you to counsel and guide you through the process.

by Omkar Pradhan

19 Sep 2022

Blogs

11318

The 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak is an ongoing health crisis that has engulfed almost every major country in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January, and a pandemic on 11 March. This pandemic has also severely affected students across the world with approximately 1.3 billion learners currently affected due to school/college closures in response to the pandemic as of 4th May 2020. Impact on Indian education system India also shut off all the educational institutes in the country during the second week of March. As with the global situation, there is limited clarity as to when schools and colleges will be reopened. Without a question, this is a critical time for the education sector, as many university admission exams and competitive assessments are held during this timeframe. Needless to mention, the pandemic has turned the centuries-old, chalk-talk teaching paradigm into a technology-driven one. This revolution in the provision of education is forcing politicians to work out how to accelerate participation on a scale whilst providing equitable e-learning options and resolving the digital divide. A multi-pronged approach is required to address the crisis and develop a stable Indian education system in the long term. Educational Institutes across the country are recalibrating to move their pedagogy online. The Classes are being offered online through live platforms, the assessments have moved online and teachers across the country are learning new digital skills to keep learners engaged. Needless to say, many online platforms are experiencing massive traffic during this pandemic. In the month of April, there were privacy concerns with some of the platforms and massive data leakages were reported. Keeping this in mind, the government of India is encouraging homegrown players to offer live platforms and advised educational institutes against using some of these biggest platforms. Under these trying circumstances, we at upGrad have decided to open our proprietary live platform to educational institutions across India. Tips for Productively Working From Home During Lockdown Introducing “upGrad Live” for Educational Institutes COVID-19 may have a little to no impact on this year’s admission cycle. However, due to the rapidly spreading nature of coronavirus, all students and educational institutions must prepare for varied scenarios until the Pandemic is contained. So here to make your life easy we would like to introduce our platform –  upGrad Live Connectivity and learning are two vital aspects for us to function with a semblance of normalcy and we at upGrad believe that “Learning should ‘NEVER’ STOP”. Hence, we bring out to you our LIVE platform, aka upGrad LIVE to everyone, Free of Cost. With upGrad LIVE, you can connect with people, reach out to students, deliver lectures, share study material and have open discussions on subject matters all at minimal data consumption, basic tech abilities and maximum space for interaction. As of 4th May 2020, we have more than 30 Institutions, who are conducting their online classes on our platform, and assisting more than 1000 teachers and 40, 000 students to minimize the impact of these trying times. Some of the great features that upGrad live platform offers are: Student and teacher view to see class calendar and launch classes Low latency live streaming Online chats In-session polls/quizzes Feedback Session analytics Recording of each class available

by Omkar Pradhan

05 May 2020

Blogs

8312

As the grasp of coronavirus continues to increase exponentially across the globe, people everywhere are forced to stay within the confines of their homes. Let’s talk about comforting, fun activities you can do if you are looking for some structure in your day during this quarantine. We put together some of our preferred ways to stay entertained when you are practising social distancing. Things to do that will help you manage health 1. Keep stress at bay Stress is a major cause of a mental breakdown in troubled times like this. Naturally, you must make it your goal to take control of your mind to keep stress at bay. To do so, you have to engage in physical activities like freehand exercising, yoga, gardening, cooking, and of course, meditation. Also, music is an excellent way to calm down your mind and body.  2. Plan your diet for improved immunity At a time like this, it is important to take extra care of your health and that of your family members. Eating right is the key to a sound body and mind. Right now, your focus should be to simplify your meals by using minimal ingredients. Cut down on carbs, and incorporate healthy fats, proteins, and vitamins in your diet plan. You can use apps like MyFitnessPal and Fooducate to improve your food habits and plan a wholesome diet. 3. Meditate When stressed out, meditation is the key to attain inner peace. However, the starting process is not easy, especially if you have a tumultuous mind. This is when you can take the help of platforms like freeMeditation to guide you through the meditation process. 4. Try online yoga classes Yoga is one of the most effective means to tame the body and mind. Not for nothing has it made a big name in the West! While you will not become a yoga master overnight, but you can start with simple yoga poses and asanas and gradually move on to more challenging ones. Again, YouTube to your rescue for learning yoga. 5. Participate in Social Media Fitness Challenge As we have already mentioned earlier, being fit and healthy is the call of duty at the moment, and what better than fitness challenges to push you towards this goal! Right now, celebrities and fitness experts are all taking to social media to challenge people to work out and get fit. You, too, could be a part of this productive and exciting chain. Check out these challenges and see how many you can complete. Things to do to revive childhood memories 6. Go through old photo albums Take a walk down the memory lane by going through old photo albums of you and the fam. You’ll be surprised and amazed to see how much you’ve grown and changed in all the years. It is bound to put a smile on your face! 7. Learn to draw Drawing is a fun hobby and a great way to pass the time. It is an inclusive activity that helps to sharpen your creative skills, observation skills, and boost your cognitive acuity, and creativity. No matter if you are bad at drawing, Drawspace will help you hone your drawing skills. Created by Jeff Baur and globally renowned artist Brenda Hoddinott, Drawspace is one of the most acclaimed art education platforms in the world.  8. Immerse yourself in crafts Learning a new art/craft is always exciting and calming. You can spend your time learning crafts like knitting, crocheting, embroidery, quilting, and so much more. Such eloquent crafts are a great way to explore and engage your visual, tactile, and sensory reflexes while contributing to your creative development. If you are wondering where to start with crafts, LoveCrafts is just what you need for the push. 9. Learn painting Granted that the outer world is gloomy and depressing right now, that doesn’t mean the inside has to be grim as well! You can add a splash of color and creativity to your home by learning painting. Whether it be on a canvas, or simple household objects (pots, bottles, rocks, etc.), or a blank wall, try a shot at painting, and you’ll see how calming it is. YouTube is the perfect platform to learn painting.  Things to do for better family bonding 10. Engage in a one-on-one convo with your partner. Relationships are often tested the most in trying times. And at a time like this, when all family members are at home, it can become frustrating not to have the personal space that you once had. Remember, if it is challenging for you, it is difficult for your partner as well. So, instead of getting on each other’s nerves, try to spend more time talking to one another. Watch a movie, play board games, listen to music – basically do things that can strengthen your relationship. 11. Enjoy karaoke night with your family No, you don’t need to hit the karaoke bar for this! Just download the StarMaker app from the PlayStore or Apple Store, get your family in a room, and let out the singers hidden within! 12. Learn to do household chores This is the perfect time to learn the tricks of household chores to save time while being productive. There’s always much to do in and around the house like cooking, cleaning, washing dishes, washing clothes, gardening, and the list goes on. Now that we’ve to do all the household chores by ourselves, it is the perfect time to learn how to ace these everyday tasks. 13. Keep your children occupied Children can be a handful during the lockdown, what will all the pent up energy they have inside. This is why you must try different ways to keep them occupied now. For instance, if your kids are very young, you can engage them in creative activities like drawing, crafting, abacus, board games, and so on. However, if they are in middle school or high school, you can engage them in books and other activities like baking and gardening. 14. Indulge in virtual house party Although we cannot host house parties now, nobody said anything about virtual house parties! It is perfect for unwinding and chilling after a long and tiring week while maintaining the norms of social distancing. Try Houseparty, a face to face social network where you can get together with your loved ones, and create a virtual house party atmosphere.  15. Make a family dance video With everyone sharing their homemade TikTok videos, why should you be left out of the equation? Making videos with your fam can be loads of fun and even therapeutic in a way because it’ll be something you do together. So, go ahead, make one! Things to do you that you always wanted to do (Hobbies) 16. Learn to cook Watching all those delicious food posts on Facebook and Instagram, making you hungry? Stop pining and get yourself to the task. Go to YouTube and search for the recipes you wish to create and start cooking! There are plenty of awesome YouTubers to follow for lip-smacking recipes. 17. Learn Photography If you’ve always wanted to learn photography but never really found the time to do it, now is the time! It is a super fun hobby that can turn into a skill, provided you are dedicated and committed to acing it. Fstoppers is a photography blog that you must check out. 18. Learn To Play Guitar As we said before, there’s never been a better time to accomplish new skills and also brush up on new ones. So, get off your comfortable spot and get started on practicing those guitar chords and fill your home with the sound of music. JustinGuitar is an excellent place to start, plus, there’s always YouTube. 19. Learn Origami Origami is a brilliant art – turning paper into so many different shapes is nothing but amazing. Although it will not add value to your resume, it is a creative skill worth learning. Head to YouTube and check out Jo Nakishima’s origami tutorials. 20. Lose yourself to dance Dancing is not only a great form of self-expression, but it is also a fantastic workout. Put on your favorite pop songs, and learn how to move to the beats. You don’t need to be a professional dancer – you only need to enjoy it! Check out Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage for some inspiration. 21. Watch documentaries Documentaries are incredibly educational and informative. There are plenty of documentaries on important historical events, political events, world affairs, science, and much more. Watching documentaries is a great way to spend your time and a productive thing to do in this quarantine. 22. Create a quirky home office Since many of us are now working from our homes, we often fall prey to the home environment and start to get lazy. So, why not utilize this time to create a working environment in your home? There are plenty of home office ideas on YouTube for you to browse through.  23. Listen to audiobooks Isn’t it soothing to listen to someone narrating an incident or story? If you love to listen stories, it is a fun thing to do in this quarantine. If you’re someone who loves hearing stories, you can try Audible. It has a vast collection of inspiring books, stories, talk shows, and life lessons (just what we need at this moment). 24. Stock up on the “stock” knowledge Remember the Great Recession of 2008? Remember that despite the stocks falling hard, those who invested in the right stocks and assets got their returns in due time? This is something like that. Take your time to gather as much information as you can about the stock market and learn about low-risk investments. It’ll help you invest in the right places in the future. 25. Deep clean your home Cleaning your home is one thing, and deep cleaning it is to take it to the next level. By deep cleaning, we mean that you will not only clean the outer surface of things and places, but you will also get rid of all the unwanted and unnecessary stuff from your house. The idea behind deep cleaning is to create more space in your home by making it clutter-free. Here’s a deep clean guide for you! 26. Learn songwriting This is something you can try for fun. FutureLearn even has a songwriting course that you can join for free. Many of us have always wanted to write songs, hell, we even have all the thoughts ready but are missing a sense of direction. This course is just the right guidebook that will guide you through the a-z of songwriting. Conclusion These are a few easy & productive things to do in quarantine to help lighten the mood at your home. Every cloud has a silver lining, and remember, this too shall pass! The big challenge in life is to convert the barrier into an opportunity. Lockdown is the best time to upskill yourself with latest technologies. Checkout upGrad’s top courses in Data Science, Machine Learning, Digital Marketing, MBA from LBS & Full Stack Development.

by Omkar Pradhan

24 Apr 2020

Blogs

5573

The world as we know it has changed. It has come to a standstill and none of us knows for how long the situation will last.  The best course of action, then, is to be as armed as possible for traversing these times. Below is all that you need to know about COVID-19, told through an easy-to-digest Q/A format. What are the symptoms of coronavirus? Source Possibly the most asked question. According to the World Health Organization, the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are: Fever Tiredness Dry cough Other symptoms vary by patients. Some of them may have a runny nose, nasal congestion, and aches and pains. They may even contract diarrhea. These are usually mild symptoms that begin gradually. Other symptoms that may ring alarm bells include: Bluish lips or face Pressure/ persistent pain in the chest Difficulty breathing Confusion Any other out-of-the-blue symptom that is severe Some people can become infected but not develop any symptoms or feel unwell. Thus, it is best to take precautionary measures and not expose yourself to unnecessary risk. About 80% of people recover from COVID-19 without needing any special treatment. When to wear a mask? You don’t need to wear a mask all the time! Wear one only if: You are caring for a suspected/ confirmed COVID-19 patient You are a health worker attending to patients with respiratory symptoms You have symptoms (cough, fever, difficulty in breathing) Whenever you do wear a mask, keep the following guidelines in mind: Avoid touching the mask when wearing it Do not leave the mask hanging from the neck The mask should cover the nose, chin, and mouth. Adjust the sides so there are no gaps Change the mask after 6 hours or as soon as they become wet Never reuse disposable masks Dispose off used masks into closed bins after disinfecting them The outer surface of the mask might be infected. Do not touch it while removing the mask After removing the mask, wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer When to get tested for COVID-19? Any symptomatic person who: Are healthcare workers Had contact with confirmed cases Have a history of international travel Are hospitalized patients with Influenza Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) or severe pneumonia High-risk or asymptomatic direct contacts of confirmed cases should get tested between day 5 and day 14 of coming into his/ her contact. High-risk and direct contact includes: Those living in the same household as that of a confirmed case Healthcare workers who examined a confirmed case without adequate protection as stipulated by WHO guidelines What to do if you are infected with COVID-19? If you display any of the symptoms listed above, then isolate yourself and take precautions. Don’t wait for it to get worse. DO NOT arrive at the hospital unannounced. Call your family doctor or the emergency helpline. Hospitals have plans for receiving potential coronavirus patients. You shouldn’t just march in and potentially infect everyone. Also, DO NOT rush to the emergency room. It is full of people who are severely affected by coronavirus and overworked doctors and nurses. In the past, a symptom like fever, runny nose, sore throat, or cough would be no reason to go to the ER. The same stands true now. Call the doctor first. If you are a high-risk patient, then consult with your doctor first (on a call). They should be able to advise you on the specific steps and measures to take that suit your system. High-risk patients include: the elderly, people with asthma, heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, history of pneumonia, a person who has been recently treated for cancer, someone who has a compromised immune system due to drug or illness therapy. What steps can the patient take if they are displaying symptoms? People who are displaying symptoms but haven’t been tested should take precautionary measures. Confine yourself to a separate room with no pets Use a separate bathroom if possible Have family members leave food trays and disinfectants at the door If a shared bathroom is being used, sanitize it If there are masks at home, both patients and caregivers must wear them when in contact with each other The family members of the patient should strictly quarantine as well. What are the signs of improvement? No fever for atleast 72 hours/ 3 days without the use of medication that reduces fever Other symptoms have gone Cough and shortness of breath have improved At least 7 days have passed since the patient’s symptoms first arrived How to build immunity against coronavirus? Doctors and dieticians recommend the following food items for building immunity against coronavirus: Broccoli Chickpeas Red bell peppers Garlic Strawberries Mushrooms Spinach What are the most essential do’s and dont’s for fighting coronavirus? Do Frequently wash your hands with soap and water. Or use an alcohol-based hand rub. Wash them even if they are visibly clean. Cover your nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing If you feel unwell or seem to display any of the above symptoms, then see a doctor. Be sure to wear a mask/ cloth when you do this. Throw used tissues and masks in the bin after use Say no to gatherings of any sort In case you display any of the signs or symptoms, please reach out on the central helpline +91-11-23978046 Don’t Source Spit in public Touch your eyes, nose, and mouth Have close contact with anyone when you have cough or fever Avoid crowded places Avoid touching public/contaminated objects No handshakes. Avoid personal contact. How can you get groceries during the lockdown? Groceries are still available in all general and department stores. In some states, home delivery of vegetables and groceries is also provided. The only condition to be mindful of is that you can only purchase from the shops near you. Who are essential workers? Medical personnel, officials in healthcare institutions, nurses, paramedical staff Public utility officials in the electricity and water departments, banks, LPG, CNG, petrol pumps Print, electronic, and online media employees Officials working with roadways, river ports, seaports, railways, airports, and vehicles that are used to carry essential goods What are the essential documents you need to step out? Due to the lockdown in India, only people who provide essential services and essential goods are allowed to step out. If you are one of these (and we thank you for your work), then you’ll need the following documents: ID cards issued by employers Endorsed authorized letters. These will be needed by the officials who are in the business of distributing essential commodities under e-commerce, supermarts, hyper marts, and PDS. These will also need to be endorsed by the SDO or local police. For all these people, the enforcement of Section 144 means that the assembly of 4 or more people is not allowed. What are the coronavirus helpline numbers? The central helpline number for coronavirus is +91-11-23978046. State-wise numbers can be found here. What is Arogya Setu app and how can it be helpful? The Arogya Setu app is the government’s COVID-19 tracker app. It helps the government in tracing contacts plus raises one’s alert level if one was near someone who had been tested positive for COVID-19. The app is a crucial piece in deciding when the nation-wide lockdown would be lifted. Source NITI Aayog Chief Executive Amitabh Kant has recommended using the app even after the COVID-19 pandemic to better monitor and control the spread of diseases. Where to find official information about COVID-19 in India? The government provides the most updated information on COVID-19 here.

by Omkar Pradhan

23 Apr 2020

Blogs

6360

2019 has been a remarkable year for upGrad. From launching new programs to partnering up with some excellent institutions, and most of all, reaching the 1250 career transition mark this year, upGrad is proud to have accomplished numerous feats in 2019. Let’s indulge in a quick recap of all that we’ve accomplished in the past year! 1. From triple ‘I’ to double ‘I’ upGrad has been associated with many reputed universities and IIIT Bangalore is one among them. In collaboration with some of the most acclaimed names in academics like Duke CE, MICA, NMIMS, BITS Pilani, and IIIT-B, upGrad has designed top-notch courses in various fields of study. In 2019, upGrad added yet another feather to its hat – IIT Madras. This is a significant milestone for upGrad as it is the only online academic brand to have achieved this feat, and that too with one of India’s best universities. The collaboration has led to the launch of a new certification course on Machine Learning and Cloud. 2. The launch of upGrad’s online MBA program Up until the launch of upGrad’s Executive MBA program, the core focus of the brand was concentrated in the re-skilling segment of the Indian ed-tech space. However, the Executive MBA program opens up another critical segment for upGrad in the ed-tech domain – Higher Education. While the Indian online re-skilling is a 400 crore market expected to grow at about 45% CAGR, the online MBA (distance) is worth nearly 800 crores. Needless to say, the massive market size with an estimated growth rate of 40% opens up a whole new scope of opportunities for upGrad. The bottom line – upGrad’s Executive MBA program is a huge milestone for the brand. 3. upGrad acquires product management community startup CohortPlus After acquiring Acadview and Pyoopil Education Technologies, CohortPlus is upGrad’s third acquisition in the last three years. CohortPlus is a Bangalore-based community platform focused on Product Management and Data Science. In the past few years, there’s been a nearly 400% rise in demand for Data Science professionals in India. However, the supply of skilled and certified Data Science professionals is relatively slow. With an active community of over 31,000 members, CohortPlus is posited to bring rich consumer insights to upGrad, thereby allowing it to further enhance its program offerings for learners. 4. Transformed the life of more than 10,000 aspirants With over 300 hiring partners, upGrad holds a record of empowering more than 10,000 students. Numerous students and professionals who obtained certifications from upGrad are now working in highly renowned companies including Fractal Labs, TCS, Accenture, Infosys, Amazon, Flipkart, Paytm, Huron, Tech Mahindra, to name a few. What’s more is that the top 20% of transitioned learners have got an average hike of 177%, with the maximum hike being a 400% jump! Nearly 30% of transitions are achieved even before completing the program, precisely, during the last three months of the course. 5. upGrad gets NSDC accreditation Recently, upGrad acquired the accreditation of the National Skill Development Corporation. This accreditation makes upGrad a part of the government’s Skill India initiative. By accrediting upGrad, the government aims to provide vocational training and certification facilities for young aspirants with a focus on job opportunity creation. Proud to be a part of the Skill India initiative, upGrad has committed to training 32,000 students in the upcoming three years and also place them in IT/ITES, BFSI and management sectors. 6. AICTE selects upGrad to deliver deep tech skills in India In 2019, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), an MHRD undertaking, has chosen upGrad to deliver deep tech skills to both students and institutions across India. The idea behind selecting upGrad is to make emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning accessible to all. Through the NEAT initiative, universities and learners can choose the topic of their preference from an AICTE- approved platform. Many of upGrad’s postgraduation (PG) programs like the Entrepreneurship Certification, PG Diploma in Data Science, Digital Marketing Certification, and Business Analytics Certification have been chosen under this training initiative. Also, upGrad’s college programs, including specialisations in Data Science, Digital Marketing, Business Analytics, Fundamentals of Programming and Full Stack Development, are also covered under this. 7. Partnered with Duke Corporate Education While upGrad has been associated with the Master’s course from Liverpool John Moores University, 2019 saw a new international partnership. This year, upGrad partnered with Duke Corporate Education, the executive education arm of Duke University to launch a Product Management Certification program. The five-month-long program aims to bring world-class educational experience that combines the right mix of hands-on training with case studies and real-world assignments. In the future, upGrad aims to associate with more such renowned international institutes. 8. upGrad-OYO scholarship upGrad announced its scholarship programme in association with OYO back in March 2019. The OYO – upGrad scholarship will offer a 50% fee waiver to 2nd-year students who will choose career programs in Full Stack Development and Data Science. The scholarship will be provided to 3000 students. The selected 3000 will be shortlisted during the enrollment process via an aptitude test. All the top performers will get a chance to intern at OYO, which is undoubtedly a great place to commence one’s career. 9. upGrad recorded a 113% rise in gross revenue in FY19 Perhaps one of the biggest milestones of upGrad in 2019 is that it witnessed a whopping 113% growth in the total revenue in FY19. In just one year, upGrad’s gross revenue jumped from ₹57 crore (as of 2018) to ₹121 crore in 2019. As upGrad’s popularity continues to increase, it is witnessing a high demand for its educational courses both from students and corporate professionals. 10. A little something for the Indian Armed Forces Taking a small step forward to help the armed forces of our country, upGrad is more than happy to honor the Indian Armed Forces personnel by initiating a fee waiver of 10% on all of its programs. This step was announced on the occasion of India’s 73rd Independence Day. While upGrad’s fee waiver is available for army personnel, it can also be availed by their immediate kin. This is a lifelong commitment of upGrad. To conclude, 2019 has been very generous for all of us at upGrad, and with the continuous support of educational institutions and the Indian government, we hope to achieve more such wonderful feats in the years to come! 11. upGrad made it to TV with Vicky! This year, upGrad made its presence known on TV as well. With actor Vicky Kaushal as the brand ambassador, upGrad unveiled its first ad campaign with the hope to showcase how online education is as effective as classroom education. The short ad introduces consumers to upGrad and brings to light its unique power learning approach. While Vicky Kaushal does a great job in bringing upGrad’s brand idea alive before the mass consumers, the ultimate goal of the ad is to establish the fact that in this fast-changing world of technology, there’s a massive demand for new-age skills in the workplace. And the only way to go higher up the career ladder is by upskilling.

by Omkar Pradhan

31 Dec 2019

Blogs

5068

What’s happening? Where is it happening? How is it happening? Presenting UpGrad Trends to Tend where we talk about news, views, and opinions across the data, digital & tech industry. From a recent article by Livemint, after the latest round of funding, Ola reclaimed its position of being the second most valuable startup in India. Now it stands just above OYO in terms of valuation and is only behind PayTm which is still leading at the top. The latest funding is part of the $1 billion that Ola is currently in process of raising. As per a report by Accenture, if India fails to bridge the skill-gap, then there would be almost $1.97 trillion GDP growth risk in India by 2030. Advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, the blockchain, and augmented virtual reality are some of the new skills which people need to learn to work efficiently and cost-effectively. This report urges the Indian government and corporates to create skill-based learning curriculum in schools and colleges to cater to the growing digital economy. According to a survey conducted by the Dutch Cyber Security Firm Gemalto, the adoption of blockchain to secure the IoT industry has more than doubled in 2018. Blockchain adoption has increased from up to 19% in 2018 even though many industries are regulated to use the tech. Out of the 950 tech and business professionals surveyed, 23% of respondents believe that blockchain would be an ideal solution for securing the IoT devices. Mayank Kumar, Co-founder & MD of upGrad feels there is an opportunity for more than 10 unicorns in Indian EdTech sector. 2018 has seen over $500M of collective investment flowing into the EdTech space. In an article on VCCircle, Mayank writes “While 2018 had been exciting for education space, I do see a much stronger 2019 where many existing opportunities emerging across sub-sectors.”He highlights four themes which are emerging in the education sector – better quality of content, stronger distribution network, acceptance of learning among working professionals, willingness to invest in learning. Mashable India recently reported that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has found himself in the receiving end of a stern open-letter by a group of 85 different organization including the human rights group who are demanding to stop selling face recognition technology to the government. Rekognition by Amazon is being criticized for false positives and racial bias on its platform. For more news, views and opinions across the data, digital and technology world: Stay Updated With Us!     

by Omkar Pradhan

21 Jan 2019