byteXL, Microsoft join hands to develop tech talent in Tier 2 & 3 cities

byteXL ? a Hyderabad-based experiential learning platform for those aspiring for IT careers ? has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft. This collaboration aims to transform educational institutes in Tier 2 and 3 cities across India and cater to the 360-degree developmental needs of its students.

The pan-India initiative, called ‘XLerate’, supported by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), will impart training in new-age and emerging technologies. The tie-up is aligned with the national vision of providing one crore internship opportunities by 2025.

While byteXL will spearhead the training programme, Microsoft will offer the necessary infrastructure, including sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) Labs that provide contemporary programmes for specialised education.

Students will get Microsoft certifications on completion of the required learning and industry-ready skills. They will also have access to Microsoft Azure and AI certifications, along with industry-approved training modules. byteXL’s role in this collaboration will amplify Microsoft’s global skills initiative, which has already provided digital skills to over 42 million people worldwide.

Indrani Choudhury, chief learning officer, Microsoft India said, “Digital technologies will be key in addressing the skills challenge that we are facing today. Democratising access to skilling with a focus on employability, especially in Tier 2 and 3 cities of India, can empower large talent pools for the digital economy.”

Karun Tadepalli, CEO & co-founder, byteXL, calls this MOU “a critical step in enabling a developmental ecosystem for youth in India’s Tier 2 and 3 cities”.

Through this collaboration technical education will be transformed and the skills ecosystem will be reimagined thanks to a “robust and career-intensive curriculum”.

Tadepalli is confident that byteXL’s “in-house futuristic instruction methodology, coupled with Microsoft’s learning infrastructure will surely produce brilliance in employable students”. This collaborative effort will redefine traditional engineering colleges and create “a globally in-demand growth spectrum for the new graduates”.

Students in Tier 2 and 3 cities lack access to quality educational material and exposure to global trends. There is also lack of industry exposure and scarcity of financial means to complete high-quality education. This prevents many bright students from obtaining higher education or moving to Tier 1 cities for better educational opportunities. ‘XLerate’ will address these concerns and ensure that new-age, quality education and required industry exposure are made available at highly affordable costs.

This will enhance the ‘employability quotient’ of students and help in the transformation of the institutes by empowering them to produce quality industry-ready talent in the longer run.

byteXL’s Trends Report – Deep Tech Insights 21-22 based on a large sample size of 55,000 students from 60 Tier 1, 2, and 3 institutes also revealed the changing trends and aspirations of the engineering students. The student enrollment rates for specialised technology courses were witnessed at over 90 and 67 per cent in Tier 3 and Tier 2 cities, respectively as compared to 63 per cent in Tier 1. This is a clear indication of the increasing inclination of Tier 2 and 3 students to move up into the value chain. The trend for upskilling is also gaining momentum in Tier 2 students at 68.81 per cent male students and 43.96 per cent female students. Tier 3 students show a similar inclination to Tier 2 with 57.13 per cent male students and 54.63 per cent female students.

According to various industry reports, in the past 10 years (2012-2022) the employability rate of graduating engineers is less than eight per cent and 93 per cent of the graduating engineers in India lack the required IT skills to work in IT companies.