NEW COURSES AT IIT ROORKEE
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has launched two new Mtech programmes under the recently established Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (CAIDS). Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science (DS) have the power to solve real-life problems and benefit humankind by harnessing valuable information from big data. IIT Roorkee has set up a Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (CAIDS) with the above in mind.
The CAIDS intends to develop significant and effective methodologies towards the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and data science (DS) applications and studies in the country, and thereby promote teaching, training and development of manpower, applied research, entrepreneurship and innovation in the field of AI and DS.
The primary objective of CAIDS is to promote innovation and research in the fields of AI and DS. CAIDS has launched two Mtech programmes which would commence from the academic session 2021-2022, namely, Mtech in AI and Mtech in DS.
23 faculty members from 15 different departments of the Institute have joined CAIDS as joint faculty of the Centre.
Prof. Ajit K. Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee, said: “The Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science shall play an important role in promoting manpower development, research and innovation leading to opportunities for entrepreneurship.”
What is your acquisition strategy at present?
A majority of the courses at upgrad range between six to 24 months. We want to start introducing short-form refresher courses ranging from 10 to 100 days and may look at an acquisition to build it out. Secondly, our acquisitions are also aligned towards our international expansion plans, and we will look to acquire and boost our presence in the US, Australia and Indonesia. For international geographies like the US, we will look at a build and buy strategy since there’s much happening in the Edtech sector, at present. It’s safe to say that we will be building ground up on our own, in these markets, while also looking at acquisitions. Similar to India, we will continue our focus on higher learning in these markets.
How are you looking at your international expansion plans?
By geography, upgrad is currently focussed on Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, in Southeast Asia, the UK, Middle East,
How much can international geographies contribute to your overall revenues?
We estimate that international geographies should contribute to almost 40% of our overall revenues in the next two years. Having said that, we continue to build for these international geographies from India and keep our costs in check.
What are the revenue targets upgrad is looking to achieve?
In March 2021, we hit a monthly revenue run rate of Rs 100 crores and an annual revenue run rate of Rs 1200 crores.
Considering the acquisitions (which we have undertaken) and expansion to new geographies, we expect to touch a monthly revenue run rate of Rs 250 crore - Rs 300 crore by March next year and aim to reach half a billion in overall revenues by Fy’22-end.