Source: medianews4u.com
MUMBAI, In a move designed to respond to India’s tech-savvy and agile youth market, leading edtech company upGrad has appointed the seasoned Ferzad Palia to lead its D2C learning division. This marks a new direction for upGrad after its foray into digital-first immersive learning experiences and the education market space.
This exciting pivot comes after upGrad’s impressive growth record of providing online university programs, professional certifications and study abroad pathways underpinned by professional industry and job-relevant opportunities. Personalized, short, and competency specific focusing on learning people can adapt to their lives is the future of education. Infusing artificial intelligence (AI) and micro-learning formats will provide flexible, valuable education. Offering the ability to learn, at any time, anywhere, and with various learning pathways indicating pace is the goal.
With the D2C model, upGrad anticipates strong engagement in consumer flow and creates a digital ecosystem to support sustained and authentic learning. All courses will be integrated into daily life – whether that is part of a few minutes commutes, or a few short minutes between tasks. This is especially desirable to GenZ, Millennials, etc., who prefer brevity and interactivity in learning.
Ronnie Screwvala, Co-founder and Chairperson of upGrad, said “This strengthens our mission to own the entire learning journey and turns skilling into a household habit, not just a job-switch trigger, Ferzad’s deep expertise in building high-scale, high-engagement platforms will help us unlock a wider segment.”
All about Ferzad Palia
Ferzad Palia is a seasoned professional with 25 years of experience in media, advertising, and digital technology. Before joining upGrad, he was the Senior Executive Vice President at JioStar (previously Viacom18). He was involved in growing JioCinema, leading teams responsible for international content, and youth focused advertising and digital services.
Talking about his new role, Palia said, “The opportunity to transform India’s upskilling and learning landscape at scale is an exciting mandate. upGrad’s solid foundation and outcome-driven approach makes this journey even more compelling.”
Why It Should Matter
This new foray into D2C represents a significant pivot for upGrad. The company can reach a wider audience through less intensive, shorter, AI-based lessons, particularly in smaller towns and cities. The new learning products will be cheaper, more accessible, and useful to real-life skills.
If upGrad and Palia understand how to monetize and manage the ‘partly free’ and AI elements of their value chain, they will shift the upskilling challenge in India, to become smarter, quicker and easier.
