“The fear of becoming redundant motivates people to upskill or reskill”

In this interview with Bizweek, Harsh Kayathwal, from upGrad, discusses the global transformation of higher education, the impact of AI on learning and work, and Mauritius’ potential as a regional education hub. With more than 10 million learners worldwide, upGrad continues to champion lifelong learning, practical outcomes, and human-led education in a tech-driven world.

You’ve been working at the intersection of marketing and education for several years. How do you view the ongoing transformation of tertiary education globally?

Education is now centred on acquiring the right skills to stay relevant. Tertiary education is in a sweet spot. We have access to everything we need. Institutions that can leverage technology well are gaining a serious edge in helping students and professionals upskill effectively. You need to learn something new to stay relevant.

Today, lifelong learning is a recurring theme. People return to education years later or after career shifts. What do you make of this trend?

Twenty-five years ago, finishing 12^th grade or earning a bachelor’s degree was enough. Today, a bachelor’s is just the beginning. Many go on to pursue master’s and even doctoral studies. We have been noticing this trend first hand. upGrad caters to every individual’s career needs from 18 years all the way up to 60+, and we have a strong portfolio of university-led online doctorate programs where we see professionals with 10, 15 or 20 years of work experience signing up – a strong enrolment runway year-on-year. This is a clear sign that seasoned talents today are eager to become domain experts, and an online doctorate lets them achieve it without having to put their careers on hold. These programs are usually long format – say about 24 months – and apart from the in-depth curriculum, learners also receive 1:1 thesis supervision, real-world research opportunity, and applicable insights that enhance their overall domain expertise. Lifelong learning is about staying relevant.

Platforms like Coursera and even universities like Oxford and Harvard now offer short online courses. What’s your view on this trend?

At upGrad, we could’ve gone the short-course route, but we chose to focus on engagement and tangible learner outcomes.

You’re active in India and the Middle East. What are some key educational trends there?

AI is huge right now. Everyone wants to learn about it. In the Middle East especially, governments are making bold moves. The UAE has made AI a mandatory subject in schools. Some countries even have Ministries of AI. This holds true for both individuals and organisations across levels. While there’s growing awareness of the seismic shifts driven by AI and emerging technologies, adoption still lags in many cases. Our recent upGrad Enterprise report, based on a survey of over 12,000 professionals in India, revealed that in FY25 (as at March 2025), 75% of employees received training only when it was mandated, reflecting a broader global trend. Awareness is no longer the challenge; the real gap lies in proactive, outcome-driven skilling that enables tangible business transformation.

To address this, we recently concluded an exclusive forum in Dubai, bringing together 100+ education leaders from across the UAE to discuss AI-readiness, teacher agency, and professional development in schools. As education systems evolve with technology, the role of the educator is transforming just as rapidly. The question is no longer if change is needed, but how fast we can equip our teachers to lead it.

Will AI replace human jobs in the long term?

No. These fears came with the internet, then e-commerce, and later data science. AI will automate redundant tasks, but will also push people to upskill. Humans will coexist with AI, just at a more advanced level.

How is AI reshaping the way we learn, and how has it changed your role in education?

AI is changing both education and healthcare. In education, we focus on enabling the enablers, upskilling educators so they can prepare the next generation. They are one of our key audiences. We don’t sell education. We build futures through advice, mentorship, and lifelong learning.

upGrad has invested significantly in content, platforms, and mentorship. How does your human-led approach stay relevant in a digital world?

We’re a tech company, but humans remain central. Our systems are automated, but there’s always a person ensuring it all works. Humans create tech for humans. That’s how we build a sustainable model.

Since inception, upGrad has remained deeply committed to delivering career outcomes, not just credentials. We’ve learned that strong human handholding makes a measurable difference. Today, we have a dedicated pool of over 5,000 coaches, mentors, and student buddies who actively support learners throughout their journey.

Our tech-enabled platform tracks learner behaviour in real time – monitoring logins, assignment completion, and engagement levels, allowing us to offer timely, personalised interventions. These include both academic and non-academic counselling, designed to help learners stay motivated and on track. This high-touch model has enabled us to consistently deliver program completion rates of up to 80%, which is unheard of in online education.

What’s more, we see 30-35% of our annual enrolments coming from repeat learners or referrals, a testament to the trust and quality we’ve built. In FY23 and FY24, we were the only skilling company to have enabled over 55,000 career transitions each year, which means our learners achieved promotions, job switches, and accelerated growth across roles and industries.

Can we know more about upGrad and its ambitions for Mauritius?

Co-founded in India by first-generation entrepreneur and global icon Ronnie Screwvala, along with Mayank Kumar and Phalgun Kompalli, upGrad has evolved into a global skilling powerhouse with deep expertise in shaping ‘Careers of Tomorrow’ and navigating the changing world of work.

We offer a range of online & hybrid skilling programs and partner-led certifications under our consumer / B2C portfolio. We also facilitate top Indian and global universities to offer their diploma, master’s and executive doctorates.

On the enterprise side, our robust B2B division partners with organisations across geographies to design and deliver future-ready skilling solutions, especially in areas like GenAI, AI, technology, and digital transformation, helping businesses build more agile and efficient workforces. upGrad’s mission is to make higher education accessible. We’ve impacted over 10 million learners in our first decade. Mauritius is strategically positioned –we see it as a gateway to Africa and a strong potential education export hub.

“Lifelong learning is not a choice anymore; it’s a necessity.”

Marketing education is very different from marketing a product. How do you approach this responsibility?

We avoid discounts and gimmicks. Around 30-35% of our learners come back for more programs. That tells us we’re doing something right. Our focus is outcomes, not campaigns. Our marketing strategy is simple: deliver a great learning experience, and they’ll return.

What motivates people to upskill or reskill?

The fear of becoming redundant. That’s the primary driver.

What have been the defining moments in your journey?

Our first student enrolling in a data science course was special. But partnering with Microsoft to upskill over a million Indians at incredibly affordable prices, that was game-changing. We aim to upskill nations, not just individuals.

upGrad’s journey began in 2015 with India’s first fully online entrepreneurship program, which seamlessly aligned with the launch of the ‘Startup India’ movement.

Building on this early momentum and deep market understanding, we expanded into programs for working professionals, covering high-demand areas like Data Science, Analytics, Product Management, Digital Marketing, and the then-nascent field of Machine Learning. In our formative years alone, we onboarded over 250,000 learners globally.

Fast forward to today, upGrad has crossed 10 million learners across formats and geographies – a milestone that feels both surreal and deeply validating. From being an India-born brand, we’ve grown into a global benchmark in skilling.

One of our recent launches – the ‘U&AI’ certification in partnership with Microsoft and NSDC – priced at just $6, was designed to democratise AI literacy. The course equips users with the fundamentals of prompt engineering and effective AI tool usage, and in just two months, it has already garnered over 60,000 paid sign-ups, signalling a massive appetite for accessible, future-ready skills.

Are there other partnerships worth noting?

We’ve worked with over 5,000 universities and 3,500 corporates globally. About 25-30% of our staff are subject matter experts, which is essential for supporting master’s and doctoral students through research and specialized content.

Some universities offer “doctorates” in one year. What message do you have for students in regard to that?

Don’t chase offers, chase credibility. Do your research. Education is an investment of time and money. All our university partners are accredited and recognized by global bodies.

What should learners, educators, and policymakers prepare for in the next decade?

Policymakers must stay ahead of their students, who are often more tech-savvy than they realize. Kids, today, use ChatGPT to plan their day! Mauritius is fortunate because from my recent interactions with senior ministers of the country, I can say that Dr. Mahend Gungapersad and Dr. Kaviraj Sukon are actively promoting tech in education. I’m optimistic about future policy developments here.

Any final words?

upGrad is here to help you take the next step in your career. You don’t have to choose us, but do something to stay relevant. Lifelong learning is not a choice anymore; it’s a necessity.