IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies partners with Gradskey to offer Industry Skill Certification Program

CHENNAI : IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation is partnering with GRADSKEY, an AI/ML based Skilling Platform as a Service (SPaaS), to train college students on ‘industry-ready deployable skills.’ Industry persons will directly train students on various techniques as peer-to-peer learning makes it easier for students.

This could fulfil a pressing need as many colleges in tier-2 and 3 cities do not have access to industry experts to teach them industry required technical skills. The programs are open to Students of 1st semester to 3rd semester from B.E./B.Tech, B.Sc., M.Sc, BBA, MBA, BCA, and MCA degree courses.

IITM Pravartak Technologies is a Section 8 Company housing the Technology Innovation Hub on Sensors, Networking, Actuators and Control Systems. It is funded by Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, under its National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems and hosted by IIT Madras

These Industry skilling programs are designed for a long-term trajectory of three years, which will be the duration of a students’ degree program. However, the courses are broken down into a shorter, yearly certification program to gradually skill students according to their pace of learning.

Every year, starting from first year, students gradually get industry required skills. Students start earning industry skills with a Foundation certificate and at the end of three year, eligible students would be presented with a certificate.

Highlighting the need for such industry skills training programs, Prof. Mangala Sunder, Emeritus Professor, Department of Chemistry, IIT Madras, and Founder-Coordinator, Digital Skills Academy-IIT Madras, said, “Training opportunities provided to students could result in multiple outcomes; not only would one get to solve and get experience in industry-relevant problems but also would be able to think of designing new programs and explore new start-up opportunities which will result in jobs to many others.”

The courses would be offered in-person mode in educational institutions where more than 100 students sign up. In other institutions, it would be offered in a hybrid mode, with around 60-75 per cent in online, and the remaining classes being in physical mode. The course fees will be between Rs.5,000/- and Rs.7,000/- per student per semester.

Speaking about the unique aspects of the skill certification program, Mr. R. Achutharaman, Founder and CEO of Gradskey, said, “Our skilling process and methodology is unique and key for the success of students acquiring the much-needed industry skills and problem-solving skills for their dream career goals.”

Further, Dr. M.J. Shankar Raman, CEO, IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation, said, “As per NASSCOM report, 70% of the total job openings in 2024 will be for entry level professionals. Colleges require industry partnership to fulfill this surge in skill demand. Our partnership with GRADSKEY aims to bridge this skill gap by engaging the students during early semesters, rather than doing few skilling workshops in the final semester.”

The key objectives of these courses are to address two major challenges that most of the colleges are facing in India:

Ø There are so many colleges in India that do not have access to industry experts to teach them industry required technical skills,

Ø In addition students in many colleges do not get sufficient directions to build strong foundations and problem-solving skills.

To address both these challenges in the IT/CS and Data Science domain, Gradskey Technologies, which offers training and skills in problem-solving and IT/CS and Data Science, has joined hands with IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation. This partnership is intended to deliver these programs in a systematic way by adding a much higher valuable certification process through mentorship from IIT Madras professors and industry experts.

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ABOUT IIT MADRAS PRAVARTAK TECHNOLOGIES FOUNDATION

IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation is a section 08 Company housing the Technology Innovation Hub on Sensors, Networking, Actuators, and Control Systems (SNACS). We are committed to transforming the frontiers of knowledge. Our start-up ecosystem is the nurturing space of brilliant professionals, Innovative entrepreneurs, curious young talents, and inquisitive students. With world-class infrastructure, equipment, and experienced mentors, we have everything to offer for the technology-hungry brains.

IITM Pravartak is funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, under its National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, and hosted as a Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) by IIT Madras. The NM-ICPS is a comprehensive Mission aimed at complete convergence with all stakeholders by establishing strong linkages between academia, industry, Government, and International Organizations.