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In a rapidly changing global landscape, skilling has become critical for workforce readiness in India. In this interview, Raghav Gupta, Managing Director, India and Asia Pacific, Coursera, highlights the growing importance of online learning platforms, government policies like NEP 2020, and collaborations with top industry players. The discussion delves into how digital and physical skills are shaping modern education, the impact of initiatives like the National Skills Qualification Framework, and the significant role of skilling in complementing formal education to equip India’s youth for the future.Edited excerpts:
As an expert in the field, how do you view the overall skilling landscape in India?
Since COVID-19, the importance of skill development has increasingly gained prominence. The pandemic accelerated trends such as digitization and remote work, and more recently, the integration of AI, into various industries. Overall, we have observed a substantial increase in the demand for upskilling in the formal sector, particularly among Indian learners, as reflected by the significant growth on our platform. While the US leads with around 29 million learners, India follows closely with 25 million, surpassing the entire European region. The countries ranked third, fourth, and fifth have learner numbers in the single digits.The recent industry shifts are driving more people to seek learning opportunities online, highlighting the increasing importance of skill development. Specifically, in the field of generative AI, we’ve seen a surge in interest, with four people globally enrolling in our Gen AI course every minute — of this every one person is in India. Overall, acquiring skills is becoming increasingly crucial for career success, whether for students, professionals, or individuals in both the public and private sectors.
What according to you are the government’s objectives behind giving fillip to skilling?
The government is very clear in terms of developing citizens who can be successful in the workforce. As a result of technological advancements and a larger number of people coming into the workforce, the government has brought about several policy changes and initiatives. The National Education Policy (NEP 2020) brought about major shifts, including the provision for students to earn up to 40% of their credits from online platforms. Last year, the National Credit Framework was introduced, which acknowledges all forms of learning, including courses on Coursera, as part of the credit system. Additionally, 50% of the credits earned on campus can be from skill-based courses. With initiatives like Karmayogi Bharat which aims to upskill civil service professionals, the government is making it clear that their main goal is to build a future-ready workforce and provide meaningful employment opportunities to the millions entering the job market.
To give you an example –Coursera for Campus is our platform which is used by universities and institutions to provide learning opportunities to their students. From a regulatory standpoint, campuses now allocate up to 40% of credits which come from online platforms, and many institutes are embracing this model. India has emerged as the largest adopter of Coursera for Campus globally, with thousands of institutions and students taking advantage of it. Prestigious institutions like Manipal University, Symbiosis International University, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), and Acharya Institutes are incorporating Coursera content and material from our partners, which are top universities and companies, as standalone for credit, where the full course and assessment might be delivered on the Coursera platform. For instance, a B. Tech student in Computer Science might take a cybersecurity course from IBM on Coursera, or an MBA student could study Generative AI through a Vanderbilt University course, earning credits at their institution. We’re seeing students benefiting by it and earning, if not 40% but up to 15 – 20% of credits from the Coursera platform.
Is skilling going to overshadow formal education in India?
Skilling will play a vital complementary role in the success of students as they enter the workforce, especially as technology continues to reshape industries. Skilling-related courses can account for up to 50% of the credits a student earns, so skilling is becoming an essential component alongside the formal education provided on platforms like Coursera.
We have introduced the Career Academy, a program specifically designed to focus on high-demand, digital job roles whose skills can be gained on Coursera platform. And therefore we partnered with those companies who are the best in those high-demand fields, and created industry micro-credentials with them. For instance, we’ve partnered with leading companies such as Google, IBM, Meta, Salesforce, L&T EduTech, PwC India, and Fractal Analytics to create industry-specific micro-credentials. These credentials equip learners with the skills needed to begin careers in these fields. This approach complements formal education, with skilling playing a critical and substantial role in enhancing the overall learning experience.
What is the ratio of digital-physical skills required in the present day situation?
On Coursera, we’re seeing thousands of students easily earning between 15-20% of their credits through the platform. Many of these credits are being earned in an online or digital environment, particularly in digital or technology-related skills. However, some credits are also being earned in areas related to physical skills, such as leadership, negotiation, and sales, etc.
The government has promoted online learning, allowing up to 40% of credits to come from digital sources. These credits can also be for physical skills. A good way to approach this is by considering the complementarity of learning in today’s world. Whether you’re a student or a working professional, much of your skill development can take place in physical spaces, while a significant portion also occurs in digital spaces. Often, it is a blend of both physical and digital skills working together.
For example, a mechanical engineer needs to know how to operate a lathe machine, which is a physical skill. However, understanding the data analytics associated with that machine is a digital skill. Similarly, in civil engineering, construction and city management are traditionally physical skills, but modern practices now incorporate IoT devices, drones, and data analytics—digital skills that complement the physical aspects. The focus should be on how these skills complement each other.
How evolving skills standards such as the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) are going to shape the future of the sector?
This aligns with the government’s commitment to promoting skill development and creating a regulatory environment that supports it. The National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) allows industry-developed content to be utilized by students pursuing degrees, enabling them to earn credits toward their qualifications. The NSQF, under the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), evaluates industry-taught content to determine its creditworthiness, ensuring it meets established skill development standards.
On our end, we engaged with the NSQF, in collaboration with National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), and asked them to review 10 of our professional certificates from IBM and Google. The NSQF has assigned these certificate levels ranging from 4.5 to 5. Some of these professional certificates are Google Data Analytics, Google Project Management, Google Digital Marketing and E-Commerce, as well as IBM Cybersecurity Analyst, IBM Data Science and IBM DevOps and Software Engineering, among others.
This initiative enables a system for universities and employers to provide credit recognition to industry content, creating more pathways for learners to pursue skills-based career opportunities in the country. Higher education institutions, and students will now be able to transfer credits for eligible Professional Certificates on Coursera, fostering job-ready, digitally skilled graduates.
The intent is precisely as discussed earlier: to align industry-created content with regulatory frameworks, enabling students and early-career professionals to acquire relevant skills. The broader vision is to prepare citizens for the workforce of the future.
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