AlmaBetter, a Kalaari-backed global edtech platform, has collaborated with E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati. Under this partnership, learners will be able to acquire an advanced certification in Full Stack Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and Full Stack Web Development. E&ICT Academies are a joint initiative by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology , the Government of India, and IIT and NITs.
With this partnership, E&ICT Academy, IIT Guwahati, and AlmaBetter intend to train learners and improve their employability in Data Science, Software Engineering, and other specialized fields. The curriculum has been designed and vetted by E&ICT Academy, IIT Guwahati, and learners enrolling with AlmaBetter will get an additional Advanced Certification from E&ICT Academy, IIT Guwahati, enabling them to get IIT-certified global standard education. The learners would have access to guest lectures by the IIT Guwahati faculty and can opt for a campus immersion opportunity at the IIT Guwahati campus. After completing this certification, learners can add a prestigious IIT endorsement to their resumes, enhancing their career prospects.
This collaboration between IIT Guwahati and AlmaBetter is poised to reshape the tech education landscape in the country. In the current scenario, access to premium institutes and high-quality tech education is limited to a select few, restricted to only some premium institutes. As per a report released in 2018, only 3% of the total number of students in India make up for enrolments in premium institutes like IIMs and IITs. With this partnership, AlmaBetter aims to increase this fraction by at least 30% by democratizing tech education and making it widely accessible and affordable to tech enthusiasts and professionals nationwide.
All students eyeing IIT-certified programs can now access a global curriculum via a flexible way of learning focused on job outcomes with access to AlmaBetter’s esteemed network of 700+ hiring partners.
Shivam Dutta, Co-founder and CEO of AlmaBetter said, “Democratizing tech education for all has been at the core of AlmaBetter’s vision, and this collaboration with IIT Guwahati brings us close to realizing it. We are elated to partner with E&ICT Academy, IIT Guwahati. It is a significant milestone in our journey as we continue our mission to bring a global standard of tech education to our country’s capable students who otherwise cannot access or afford the finest of tech education. This partnership enables us to further our mission at a faster pace.”
Prof. Gaurav Trivedi, Principal Investigator from E&ICT Academy, IIT Guwahati, said, “E&ICT Academy was introduced to enhance the employability of tech students and working professionals in our country. Our partnership with AlmaBetter makes it easier for us to reach more students nationwide. This partnership marks a huge step ahead as we offer the best education and employability skills to tech learners.”
Established in 2020 by five IIT-educated entrepreneurs, AlmaBetter aims to democratize tech education in the country by addressing access and affordability issues for the most deserving. It is backed by Kalaari Capital and 15+ angel investors. AlmaBetter has recorded a 92% placement rate in the last three years. Earlier in July, AlmaBetter launched AlmaBetter Innovarsity and allocated INR 50 crore to the Innovarsity fund to enhance learner experience, bring global standard education, and offer merit-based scholarships across programs. The company plans to allocate 50% of this fund towards scholarships for its programs in partnership with E&ICT Academy, IIT Guwahati.