[Exclusive Interview] This EdTech Startup Is Unleashing A Design Revolution With ‘Learn by Doing’ Model; How It Works?

Recently we interacted with Alex George, who is the Co founder and Managing Director at ITLH (Information Technology learning hub).

We asked him about the edtech startup, and how they are enabling students to learn more, and earn more.

Here are the highlights from the exclusive interview:

Idea behind inception

After seeing the recruiting and training processes of the IT industry, we realized that the skill gap between recent graduates and industry expectations is enormous. While large multinational corporations could afford six months of intensive training to develop a student’s expertise in the area of technology, we found that not all businesses could, and this is one of the primary reasons for the low employment rate. Not because there is a lack of demand, but rather because there is a dearth of newcomers who can really code or design. Since we came from a background in which we founded our own technological company, we thought we knew precisely how to fill this void. That would be Practical Learning—learn to code or design under the guidance of working professionals and complete real-world projects.

Details about the brand and its solutions providing to TA

Information Technology Learning Hub (ITLH) is an Edutech that offers its students Design courses (UI and UX) and Programming via a live Practical Learning method. ITLH has implemented a Practical Learning Approach in its entire teaching mechanism where we have implemented the entire course in a “Learn by Doing Mechanism”; you are not only trained by Teachers with subsequent Industry Experience, but are instead required to complete a simulated project under the supervision of currently employed Industry Team Leads, Project Managers, etc.

A few of our program highlights are mentioned below 

A Global Multi-Member Faculty of Industry Experts with an Avg Experience of 15 Years

B. Guest Faculty with World-Renowned Heads & CEO’s.

C. Round the Clock mentorship to ensure your learning experience is holistic.

D. Special Focus to build your own personalized Behance Portfolio

E. Lifetime Placement Opportunity so that we have your back when you decide to switch.

F. Project Collaboration with a Design & IT company to ensure you don’t go out in the market as a Fresher.

G. Access to World’s first Gated freelancing community for UIUX Designers.

Growth and Expansion plans 

ITLH plans to hire more than 100 employees in the year 2022 (FY 22) for their office headquarters in Navi Mumbai. We’re  anticipating a growth of 10 times our current size by the end of this year. We further plan to expand our territorial reach to tier-1 cities and increase our focus in the Middle East by accepting more enrolments from global cities such as Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Dubai.

Challenges and obstacles faced while establishing the startup

Acceptance of the Concept 

Initially, the notion that possessing skills may earn you a job was not accepted by the general public. The Indian Education System is predicated on the premise that a college’s credibility/connection and network are required to get a decent package. Implementing a Learn by Doing model and receiving training in a simulated project under the supervision of project delivery managers as opposed to instructors seemed unthinkable. This concept was greeted with significant opposition, particularly among students who thought that a college degree was necessary for employment. Unless the brutal reality of the industry is diametrically opposed, the same holds true.

Limited Funds 

Initially, ITLH was entirely self-funded, without any outside funding that may have served as a foundation. We redirected our revenues from our software development firm to make this a reality, since it was created out of sheer enthusiasm.

Getting the right people

When you have limited funding and a truly original concept, finding the proper professionals is an entirely different struggle.

Details on the recruitment provided to the students by ITLH

Our students have been made proficient enough to be placed in some of the industry’s leading tech firms like Byju’s, Flipkart, Ola, Accenture, Capgemini, The Minimalist, and Tech Mahindra. 

Any new courses to be introduced in the future

We are launching our Front End Development Course with React Js specialization in August.

Future of ed-tech industry in India 

The industry’s purview and perimeter are going to expand and embody more jobs and churn our more opportunities to proficient professionals in the coming times. Digital learning will become the staple process of procuring education and accomplishing learning goals. The tier-2 and tier-3 cities which are at a certain disadvantage when it comes to prime learning centers within their vicinity will be major beneficiaries of the technological immersion. The growing popularity and curation of convenience provided by the hybrid models will enable it to become a mainstay in education models going forward, whether online or offline. The magnificence of the metaverse world will also be unraveled along the way in the future. 

The future of ed-tech will have several divisions depending on the industry 

K-12: With recessions and inflation, investors will be picky. While value-added education in k12 is essential, it won’t be a deterrent if parents don’t take it up for their children. Those who can’t afford it may continue without putting this investment for their children.  With schools re-opening and occupying a good portion of children’s time, there will be a normalization which will reduce the 10x to 700x ratios the Edutech Unicorns pulled off, but it won’t lead to any crash in the future as the future is Technology and a culmination of Technology getting blended for every experience such as Metaverse.

Skill Upgradation Industry: A recession will encourage professionals to upgrade their abilities and be prepared for the worst, so that in the case of a layoff, it does not impact them or their career. This basic evaluation of the necessity plays a significant effect in customers’ purchase decisions.