Page 78 - EW August 2025

Interview

“Online learning essential for adult learners”

n alum of the premier Indian responsibilities, online learning is
Institute of Information Tech- not just credible — it’s essential.
Anology, Bengaluru with corpo-
rate experience in blue-chip compa- To what extent is China’s network of
nies (American Express, Mercedes 11,000 large vocational education &
Benz, Wipro), Diwakar Chittora is training institutes (VET) with an aggregate
the Founder-CEO of Intellipaat (estb. enrollment of 35 million responsible for
2011), an online edtech firm. its emergence as a global manufactur-
ing giant? How does India’s VET system
What was the motivation and inspira- compare?
tion behind the promotion of Intellipaat China’s VET network — over 11,000
Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd in 2011? institutes with 35 million students —
At the time high-quality online edu- has been pivotal in shaping its manu-
cation wasn’t accessible to everyone, facturing dominance. It ensures a
and technical education available continuous supply of industry-ready
wasn’t aligned with industry needs. talent, aligned with evolving tech-
My goal was simple — to offer af- nologies and regional needs. This has
fordable, high-quality technology significantly boosted productivity,
education that would help both innovation, and global competitive-
professionals and young graduates ness.
secure high-paying jobs in short span projects, capstones, case studies, and In comparison, India’s VET
of time. covers interview-relevant content to system is still developing. While
help learners land jobs. initiatives like Skill India and PM-
Another key differentiator is aca-
How satisfied are you with the company’s KVY are steps in the right direction,
progress? demic collaboration with top-ranked challenges remain in scale, industry
institutions such as IITs, NITs, IIMs
I think we’ve done a fabulous job. alignment, and perception. For India
Looking back at our progress since and Ivy League foreign universities to match China’s manufacturing ca-
like MIT. For instance, in emerging
2016 — when we started with just pability, we must invest in modernis-
a few learners in a small Bengaluru technologies like data science, AI, ing vocational training, strengthen
EV, management, cloud computing,
office — it’s incredible that we have academy industry-partnerships,
nurtured 10 million learners. I be- and machine learning, we create a creating clear career pathways for
research mindset by involving lead-
lieve we have transformed the lives VET graduates.
of learners globally by equipping ing faculty from around the world.
them with in-demand skills through How optimistic are you about government,
a strong, industry-aligned programs. The general perception is that online corporate sector and judiciary productiv-
study programs and certification thereof
Our YouTube channel, now the ity catching up with China & the West by
world’s largest upskilling platform have lesser credibility than hybrid and 2047?
conventional education dispensed by
with over 10.2 million subscribers, The government has made strong
offers high-quality content com- bricks-n-mortar institutions. What’s your strides in digital governance, infra-
pletely free. comment? structure, and skilling. Improving
But if I look at the bigger picture I don’t agree. The mode of teach- administrative efficiency and last-
of what we aim to solve in the educa- ing is less important than learners’ mile delivery will further strengthen
tion space, we’ve only achieved about mindsets. Admittedly, students in this momentum. Our corporate sec-
5 percent of what we have in mind. K-12 or test prep derive greater ben- tor — particularly in technology and
efit from brick-and-mortar institu- services — is already world-class.
What are the distinguishing/differentiat- tions as they require more structure, The next step is to bring MSMEs
ing features of Intellipaat? discipline, and personal interaction. into the fold through deeper digital
But in the lifelong learning
What truly sets us apart is strong segment, the story is completely integration and targeted upskilling.
learner hand-holding. We treat The judiciary, too, must embrace
every learner like family. From the different. For school-leavers and structural reforms and technology-
graduates, online learning is more
moment someone joins, we assign driven solutions to reduce backlogs.
a dedicated learning manager who effective and impactful. Because If these pillars — public sector,
online learning gives you access to
tracks their progress based on the private enterprise, government and
goals they have set. Our curricu- world-class mentors, regardless of judiciary — can align around innova-
geography; online learners save a
lum is 100 percent job-aligned and tion, talent, and execution, India has
follows a 90:10 ratio of hands-on huge amount of time otherwise spent a very real opportunity to emerge as
commuting to training centers; they
practice and theory. It is designed a globally competitive economy by
with inputs from experts from Ama- can revisit recorded classes anytime. 2047. But this requires a shift from
For adult learners, especially people
zon, Google, Microsoft, and similar intent to impact — executed urgently
top MNCs. It includes real-world balancing work, upskilling, and life and decisively.
78 EDUCATIONWORLD AUGUST 2025