New Delhi, June22, 2020.

COVID-19 has caused unprecedented disruption and long-lasting implications on society and its people. To ensure continuity in skill training and helping people scale their abilities, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), a public-private-partnership that is catalysing the skill development ecosystem in India,has partnered with upGrad, one of India’s largest online higher education companies to utilise its technology platform.

Through this partnership,NSDC’s eLearning platform - eSkill Indiawill be using the key features of upGrad’s Live platform. The Live platform replicates a real-time classroom learning experience by providing much greater interactivity and helps with real-time doubt resolution, enabling skill seekers to have a complete command over the active session. Therefore, a strategic collaboration of knowledge and technology would minimise the learning breakdown, for one and all. Aligned with the ‘Skill India Mission’ to strengthen the skilling ecosystem in India, the allianceis a key step towards NSDC’s sustained efforts to continue the momentum on skill empowerment through online learning during the current pandemic.

NSDC’s eSkill India portal encourages learners to explore online skill-courses anytime, anywhere. The portal leverages technology to enable skill seekers accelerate their learning through methods like virtual learning and remote classrooms. Leveraging strategic knowledge partnerships, eSkill India expands the portfolio of offerings to benefit the training providers and the skill seekers.eSkill India has curated more than 450 eLearning courses in multiple Indian languagesthroughits partnerships with globally acclaimed knowledge providers.

"We are delighted to have partnered with NSDC to support its initiative that encourages Indians to continue skilling, even while at home. This is the time when lifelong learning has become critical and with our strategic collaboration, we aim to accelerate digital learning in the country."SaysMayank Kumar, Co-founder & MD, upGrad.

Dr. Manish Kumar, MD & CEO, NSDC said, “These critical times have accelerated digital learning, expanding the reach of skilling opportunities. Skill aspirants and professionals can use a wide range of resources to equip themselves with new-age skills. Our collaborations with leading knowledge providers, is enabling users to access a rich repository of high-quality, self-paced learning content.”

The edtech major upGrad has been the torchbearer in the online learning space and has enabled multiple platforms to reach out to thousands of skill aggregators to operate in its full capacity, thus bringing upskilling close to students and working professionals across Indian states. Currently, 50+ institutions are conducting their classes seamlessly through upGrad Live, with over 45,000 students registered. Some of the institutions include Nagpur University, Lovely Professional University, Jamia Hamdard University, Sinhgad Group of Institution, ABES Engineering College, along with several colleges from Tripura.

Today, skilling programs through the methods of virtual learning and remote classroom has brought a wave of change and has certainly become a game-changer.  While every individual, in their personal capacity, is trying to mitigate the adverse effects of the disruption, upGrad, with its tech-based solution, is moving strongly to enable India to resume to its full potential and accept the new normal.