Andhra Pradesh’s Minister of HRD, RTG, IT and Electronics, Mr Nara Lokesh today launched the Sricity International university (SIU) in the presence of Sri City chairman Mr Srini Raju, founding Managing director Mr Ravindra Sannareddy and many other industry leaders.
With the aim of making students employable and reducing the employability gap prevalent among students, SIU seeks to impart industry driven courses & training models and not just focus on granting mere degrees to students.
“There is an impending crisis today in the country wherein over 50% of the graduates in India are unemployable. We don’t have the required skills needed by Industry.
Industry has to spend 3-6 months training them after graduation” said Sri City’s Mr Srini Raju explaining the genesis of this university.
Noting that about 10 million students pass out of 12th grade every year he said there is an urgent need for mentoring & hand holding.
“Proper guidance can transform a student’s life” said Mr Raju and underscored that the university has a modified study program just to suit industry needs.
Quoting the well acclaimed corporate leader Mr Jack Welch who said I cannot guarantee employment but guarantee employability. “We will guarantee employability,” said Mr Raju.
The state’s education minister Mr Lokesh lauded the initiative and termed the Work- study model of SIU as the ‘leg’ model i.e. Learn, Earn and Graduate.
“What Sri City is doing is truly magical. I am confident that SIU will successfully address the employability gap and impart training in sync with Industry needs,” said Mr Lokesh.
The minister further urged SIU to integrate AI in their teachings.
“AI is a way of life. As a HRD minister I see it as an enabler. It has the power to transform our entire life”
He also spoke of the one family one entrepreneur initiative of the government and highlighted AP’s speed of doing business, stability in governance and transparency.
“AP is growing at double digit and will keep growing at a fast pace” pointed the minister.
Addressing the gathering virtually, renowned Indian born American computer scientist Professor Raj Reddy said that SIU will work towards transforming education in order to be relevant in 21st century.
He stated that many of the teachings taught in institutions today are outdated.
“SIU’s model of learning by doing & the work-study paradigm of SIU can become the template of all educational institutions in the future” opined Prof. Reddy.
Mr Ravindra Sannareddy of Sri City hailed Minister Lokesh for the rapid transformation he is bringing about in industry and his strong emphasis on speed of doing business in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
“Having studied in the best universities himself we are lucky to have a minister of his stature and dynamism,” said Mr Sannareddy.
SIU also possesses an incubation centre which looks to create a thriving environment for startups.
