#20 - Democratizing access to tech skills , across the country
After a full seven hours on boring highways, we were welcomed by hundreds of lively learners at Sharda Institute of Technology, College of Engineering in Ichalkaranji. It was January 2020, which is usually cold in interior Maharashtra, but the weather was pleasant that day with a bright warm sun. Crowded with zealous learners under a warm sun, we soon forgot the fatigue that we had after the long ride.
(From L-R - Shruti , me, Dileep, Mayuresh)
We were pleasantly surprised at the turbaning ceremony that happened at the college for us. These learners came from humble backgrounds, families of farmers and mill workers – hardworking, dreamers, and with a really big heart. They appreciate every little help and welcome it with enthusiasm. However, the only problem is that they don’t have proper guidance to direct their hard work in the newer directions that tech is taking.
That day at Sharda, we recruited the top 20 learners from a cohort of 160 for a six-month rigorous upskilling in front end web development. In the later weeks of January and February, we screened 3500 more learners and recruited a total of 350 learners from 25+ colleges spread across several tier II and tier III towns in Maharashtra.
Fast forward 7 months, and many of these learners are working at some of the top tech companies in the country. This includes the Indian unicorn RazorPay and global brands such as PayUMoney and Deloitte.
So, how did we do it? How did we shift their career trajectories to compete and bag some of the best jobs in the technology market?
We began with one very fundamental question – what helps a learner excel in her career?
I answer this question below. (Hint: It’s not IQ.)
Hard work and perseverance
Contrary to popular belief, an article on Inc.com argues that innate intelligence contributed only marginally to a person's financial success. The article is based on a study carried out by the Nobel Prize-winning economist James Heckman, who found that it was rather a person's conscientiousness that determined her financial success.
Conscientiousness is a person's commitment to her duties and goals. Qualities such as self-discipline, hard work, and perseverance are important determinants of conscientiousness.
This isn't surprising though, is it? IQ alone cannot build an empire. It is rather a person's commitment that supports her through failures and difficulties. This is true across different careers.
In my own 4+ years of experience as an entrepreneur, I have almost always failed before getting something right. But I never stopped trying
The learners we recruited also reported to have spent 1000+ hours solving problems and practicing code. They spent an average of 3 to 4 hours daily honing their problem-solving abilities.
In fact, hard work and perseverance were the top most important qualities that we sought in learners while recruiting. As Tim Notke famously said, "hard work beats talent." I stand firm by this belief.
Solid foundation
Among school children, those who lag behind in junior classes almost never catch up with their peers even after years of education. Unfortunately, our school education system doesn't give these children a second chance at building a strong foundation.
This is equally true for higher education in our country. Learners who bag a lucrative job spend a decent amount of time understanding the basic concepts of relevant subjects.
During our recruitment drive as well, learners with a relatively more strong foundation performed better at the test. However, they all had a long way to go. We ensured this during their six-month rigorous training. Instructors from top tech companies, who were hands-on themselves and passionate about elevating careers for others, covered the basics in-depth. Plus, we provided 1:1 assistance to ensure that no student lagged behind.
Our programs equally stress on perseverance. We believe that 2 hours of study seven days is better than 20 hours of study on a single day. We ensure a minimum of two hours of daily commitment from our learners with assignments and group problem-solving sessions.
Mentorship
No amount of hard work and perseverance in the wrong direction can ever lead you to the right destination.
Learners in a tier I city from an educated family background have the privilege of being mentored. It is either a well-informed parent, an elder sibling, or a senior who guides the student. This makes it relatively easier for the student to secure a college seat or to bag a job offer.
On the other hand, a student in some tier II or tier III town has to travel a long way, physically as well as cognitively, to secure the same college seat and to bag the same job offer.
At GreyAtom, all our learners are assigned a dedicated mentor who guides them throughout the course duration. The mentor helps the student in academics, personal development, and getting industry exposure, sharing best practices on what is the current trend in technology, how should they build their skills as a T shaped professional.
The ISA model
Do our Learning Program, but Pay After you get a Job was the model we went with. If the students aren't successful, the education provider doesn't get paid. Simple!
ISAs are a debt-free alternative to loans. It’s an investment Educational Institutes make in human capital. Sometimes, there is also a small down payment required at the time of enrollment.
I personally feel that the concept of Income-Share Agreements (ISAs) comes in as a ray of hope for learners who have the potential but are unable to pay huge amounts upfront.
The ISA model solves two problems. First, it makes quality education more affordable to learners of all backgrounds. Secondly, it fixes accountability on part of the institution now that their income directly depends on their learners' employability.
To ensure fair returns on our investment at GreyAtom, we are as selective with our recruitment as one should be with any other type of investment. This helps ensure commitment at the student’s end.
We have also achieved a completion rate of 85%, which is very rare for online courses
Secondly, our learners have received lucrative job offers during the present recession amid this Covid-19 pandemic. This reflects our ability to improve the employability of our learners.
Endnote
According to Hurun Global Unicorn List 2020, China is home to 227 unicorns (only slightly behind USA's 233 mark). On the other hand, India is home to only 21 unicorns. The secret to China's rise lies in its commitment to human development and infrastructure capital.
As a country that will soon have one of the largest population of youth on the planet, we in India need to stay focussed on the path of giving our young population access to the right education and skill development opportunities. We need to invest in our young people.
At GreyAtom, we invest in our learners. We believe that as long as we stay committed to our duties, our learners will do good, and in turn, we will do better.
We were right. In 2020, GreyAtom has successfully upskilled and already pivoted careers for more than 50% of our learners, a small feat in a long journey.
I, personally and on behalf of GreyAtom, want to express my gratitude to all our arduous learners, committed mentors and industry partners who have been constantly giving wings to our learners. Together, we have pulled made this happen!
Looking forward to a fresh year, with many more outcomes.
Happy 2021 to you and your loved ones!
Cheers
Shweta