Feb 15, 2024 | Uncategorized
Marking a transformative moment in the landscape of Indian education and skill development, Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, today officially inaugurates an innovative partnership between TeamLease EdTech and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). This strategic collaboration is designed to foster employability through skill development by endorsing work-integrated degree programs. Digivarsity, TeamLease EdTech’s pioneering tech-first platform, will now synergize with Skill India Digital, offering candidates enhanced access to higher education and employment opportunities, heralding a new era in education and skill development.
TeamLease EdTech, a leader in educational solutions in India, has launched Digivarsity, a revolutionary platform that integrates academic study with real-world work experiences. Aimed at redefining the realm of higher education in India, Digivarsity prepares students for successful careers by equipping them with necessary workplace skills in addition to academic knowledge. With partnerships established with India’s top 10 universities and more than 150 leading employers, Digivarsity introduces innovative work-linked degree programs that bridge the divide between education and employment. This initiative empowers students to make well-informed decisions regarding their educational paths while gaining invaluable practical work experience. Digivarsity reflects the vision for the future of higher education in India as envisioned by the National Education Policy 2020.
“Digivarsity is poised to initiate a transformative shift in the higher education sector of India. We are committed to investing INR 100 crore over the next five years to expand the platform and reach over 10 lakh students. We believe that the skills required by today’s employers are best learned through real-world learning environments, in collaboration with industry partners. Our objective is to furnish students with the skills needed by the job market, thereby shaping the workforce of tomorrow,” shared Shantanu Rooj, Founder, and CEO of TeamLease EdTech.
The launch of Digivarsity tackles the critical challenges faced by both employers and universities. Employers often express difficulties in recruiting and retaining skilled talent, whereas universities grapple with providing both academic excellence and practical skill-building to render students employable upon completing their courses. This partnership between educational institutions and employers, facilitated by Digivarsity, promises to revolutionize the learning experience for students. By promoting work-integrated degree programs, Digivarsity not only aims to forge a future talent supply chain but also assists universities in broadening their scope and impact. The initiative is set to significantly contribute to the improvement of India’s Gross Enrollment Ratio, offering programs that emphasize:
- Earning while Learning
- Learning by Doing
- Learning with Enhanced Signaling Value
“Participants of the Work-Integrated Degree Programs will receive on-the-job internships or apprenticeships, granting them substantial skills and work experience upon graduation and a distinct advantage over fresh graduates. Furthermore, each student will benefit from a monthly stipend to support their education and living expenses, truly realizing the ‘Earn while you Learn’ concept,” highlighted Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO of NSDC, underlining the combined efforts with TeamLease EdTech to significantly advance youth employability. This partnership marks a crucial step forward in enhancing employability and skill development, introducing a novel category of embedded work programs that are set to markedly improve the employability prospects of India’s youth.
Feb 15, 2024 | Uncategorized
In a steadfast commitment to community development, Amway India, one of the leading FMCG Direct Selling companies, championed the cause of women empowerment amongst less privileged with the introduction of ‘Pehal’ under its Nari Shakti Project in collaboration with its NGO partner, Deepalaya. Unleashing the potential of a collective endeavor, Pehal stands as a unique platform empowering less privileged women to initiate and establish sustainable enterprises for economic sustainability. Functioning as both a production center and a retail outlet, Pehal will be run by 40 women beneficiaries of Project Nari Shakti, a skill development and livelihood program dedicated to empowering women.
The initiative was inaugurated by Shri. Lachhiram Naib Tehsildar, Mr. Rajneesh Chopra, Head, Amway India, Mr. Ajay Khanna, CMO, Amway India, and Dr. George John, Secretary & Chief Executive, Deepalaya, besides other officials from Amway India and Deepalaya.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rajneesh Chopra, Head , Amway India said, “In today’s dynamic world, women stand as powerful agents of change, defending essential values and driving progress. Reflecting this momentum, the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation report indicated women constitute [1]13.76% of entrepreneurs in India, revealing vast opportunities for economic independence. At Amway, we believe that women play a pivotal role not only in driving economic growth but also in shaping the broader fabric of our society. With this unwavering commitment, we introduced Nari Shakti – a women’s livelihood program in India to empower less privileged women to achieve economic sustainability. It gives us a sense of fulfillment that the initiative has transformed the lives of over 35,000 individuals, including 3000+ women since its inception. Remarkably, 80% of these women have attained self-sufficiency in their livelihoods. We firmly believe that the introduction of the Pehal initiative will catalyze our efforts by actively fostering the growth of a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem led by women at the grassroots level. It stands as a testament to our commitment to diversity and inclusivity, aligning seamlessly with our broader vision of women’s empowerment. Our heartfelt wishes to all the women of Pehal as they embark on their journey towards self-reliance and economic sustainability. Together, we pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future.”
Pehal is a special project focusing on women’s livelihood that serves as both a production center and retail outlet, run by 40 women who are direct beneficiaries of Project Nari Shakti- a women’s skill development and livelihood program by Amway India. This initiative aims to offer a diverse array of high-quality handmade products, including apparel, home décor items, kitchen essentials, fashion accessories, and more. Additionally, Pehal is committed to providing practical skills development training to 200+ new students, fostering growth and empowerment among women. Amway India is dedicated to providing essential funding for the establishment and administration of the center to its implementing partner, Deepalaya, for an initial three-year period. Deepalaya will play a pivotal role in imparting marketing and sales training, empowering women to establish and sustain their enterprises successfully.
Speaking on the collaboration, Dr. George John, Secretary & Chief Executive, Deepalaya stated, “We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Amway India with this ‘Pehal’ initiative under Project Nari Shakti. Deepalaya is committed to the upliftment of women, and, through this collaboration, we aim to fortify Self-Help Groups and empower local artisans. By promoting women’s entrepreneurship and providing comprehensive training, ‘Pehal’ is a significant step towards economic sustainability and socio-cultural enhancement. Together with Amway India, we look forward to making a lasting positive impact on the lives of women in Sohna, Haryana, and contributing to a more inclusive future.”
Feb 15, 2024 | Uncategorized
Illumine Industries Private Limited (Illumine-i), a leading sustainable design and engineering firm, announced today that it has raised funding from Anicut Capital to scale its operations. With this fundraise, Illumine-i is poised to double down on its vision of ‘developing assets for communities by empowering builders’ by focusing on automation, digitization and improving asset caliber. The investment would also help in Illumine-i’s expansion into new markets.
Founded in 2015 by former SolarCity and Sunrun employees Nithish Sairam and Sudarsan Krishnan, Illumine-i started with a small team of 5 with a focus on designing low voltage power plants. Over the years, the company has become the leading player in its category, offering structural & electrical engineering expertise for power plants, energy storage systems, and distribution components. Beyond the power sector, Illumine-i extends digital modeling, MEP engineering & project management expertise to the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector.
“We’re thrilled to have the backing of Anicut Capital as we enter our next stage of growth,” said Nithish Sairam, Founder & CEO of Illumine Industries Private Limited. “They resonate with our commitment of developing high-value community assets. In the next 12 months, our goal is to introduce tech-based solutions, which would directly translate into reduced risk, reduced cost and improved quality of assets for our customers.”
“Illumine-i is at the intersection of a fast-growing global market and India’s talent pool to deliver for such a market. Nithish and Sudarsan have built a very strong and scalable business in the renewable energy market “ said Adithya Bharadwaj, Vice President at Anicut Capital. “We look forward to supporting them as they expand into newer geographies, new products and continue improving the end-to-end journey for customers.”
Feb 15, 2024 | Uncategorized
LEO1, a leading Edu-fintech company, has introduced India’s first numberless prepaid student ID Card in partnership with NSDL Payments Bank and Mastercard as part of its Financial SAAS for Educational Institutions. This innovative card serves as a secure prepaid card and a student ID card, marking a significant step in digitizing financial transactions in educational institutions, rewarding responsible behavior, and promoting cashless campuses. This strategic alliance underscores LEO1’s unwavering commitment to financial innovation, inclusivity, and digital empowerment in the education sector.
In Mumbai, the launch event unfolded with great anticipation as the card was unveiled in the presence of Rohit Sharma, the Captain of the Indian Cricket team, before a distinguished gathering of officials from LEO1, Mastercard, and NSDL Payments Bank.
Powered by Mastercard, the new card will ensure a safe and secure payment experience for students, contributing to the shared vision of LEO1, Mastercard, and NSDL Payments Bank to promote digitization of financial transactions at educational institutes.
LEO1 transforms financial operations for educational institutions through its comprehensive Financial SAAS platform, empowering institutions with streamlined fee collection, enhanced transparency, and real-time insights. Institutions adopting LEO1’s Financial SAAS gain access to an array of modules designed to enhance fee collection operations and improve financial transparency, facilitating informed financial decisions for a more efficient and transparent financial management process.
LEO1’s integrated system encompasses various modules to enhance the overall student experience. The Rewards Module actively engages and motivates students by employing a dynamic rewards system, using LEO1 Coins to encourage timely fee payments. The Smart ID Card Module offers multifunctional smart ID cards, serving as versatile tools for students by combining access control, identification, and financial transactions into a single, convenient solution. Simultaneously, the Fee Management Module streamlines and automates fee-related processes, providing a seamless experience for both students and institutions. Complementing these features, the Financial Literacy Module empowers students with crucial financial knowledge through educational content and tools, contributing to an enhanced understanding of financial concepts.
Notably, LEO1 incentivizes responsible financial behavior by rewarding timely fee payments with LEO1 Coins, where each coin holds a value of one rupee. These coins can be redeemed across various platforms for discounts and vouchers, aligning with the broader mission of making education more accessible by potentially reducing or eliminating fees for students who consistently meet payment deadlines.
The LEO1 card stands as a transformative tool for parents, allowing them to send money digitally, monitor category-wise usage, and oversee overall spending. For students, it facilitates seamless transactions, including tap-and-pay for institute fees, retail purchases, online transactions, and ATM withdrawals, all while doubling as a multifunctional student ID card.
Rohit Gajbhiye, Founder and Managing Director of LEO1, expressed anticipation about the collaboration, emphasizing the mission to make quality education universally accessible. The partnership signifies a crucial stride in dismantling financial barriers, establishing an environment where stakeholders can confidently embrace digital solutions for fee payments.
Gautam Aggarwal, Division President, South Asia at Mastercard, said, “Backed by Mastercard’s promise of safe and secure transactions along with exciting rewards and deals, this new card will help in digitizing the education ecosystem. A key benefit to society at large is that it will encourage the youth to manage their spends from an early age, thereby inculcating responsible financial behavior in them.
“Strategically targeting the 18-23 age group, the collaboration extends beyond financial transactions, aiming to cultivate a digital mindset and foster responsible digital behavior and financial literacy among the youth.”
NSDL Payments Bank says: We are proud to introduce the student ID cum Prepaid Card, designed to streamline payment experiences for students. The versatile student ID cum Prepaid Card facilitates transactions seamlessly across all ECOM stores & POS stores. Together, we are shaping the future of payments and forging a path towards a seamless and uniform experience for educational institutions and students.
Feb 15, 2024 | Uncategorized
Voltas Limited, India’s No. 1 AC company, from the house of Tata’s is set to participate in South Asia’s premier HVAC exhibition, ACREX India 2024. Renowned for its excellence in room and commercial air-conditioning solutions, Voltas will showcase its cutting-edge, energy-efficient green products and comprehensive life cycle management services.
Speaking on this occasion Mr. Pradeep Bakshi, Managing Director & CEO of Voltas Ltd, states, “We are delighted to be a part of ACREX 2024. As pioneers in the air conditioning market, Voltas continually strives to innovate and deliver technologically superior products. Our participation in ACREX signifies our commitment to advancing the HVAC industry. We are excited to unveil our latest offerings and strengthen our partnerships within the sector.”
Voltas has been at the forefront of innovation and has worked extensively towards the development of intelligent products equipped with integrated monitoring systems for enhanced efficiency across its portfolio. Voltas will showcase its extensive new range of Room ACs, Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems, Chillers, Light Commercial ACs and equipment lifecycle management services at ACREX India 2024. The Company is geared up to launch an exhaustive range of smart and efficient air conditioning and refrigeration solutions in 2024. The new range will be showcased at the Voltas Stall (Stall No. B01, Hall 11) at ACREX’24.
Feb 15, 2024 | Uncategorized
Qudify, a QR-based horizontal SaaS platform, is catalysing the rapid digitalization and decarbonization of Indian enterprises by providing innovative solutions. With its cutting-edge technology, along with Meeting Room Booking Management and Visitor Management, Qudify addresses the growing demand of Indian firms for affordable, asset-light, new-age, easy-to-use, cloud-based software solutions.
The average carbon footprint of a single office paper during its lifecycle is around 4.64g CO2 equivalent per sheet. Eliminating paper in many routine tasks, such as visitor entries, meeting room scheduling, and complaint management, across 1.48 million Indian enterprises can reduce a substantial carbon footprint, contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.
“We are passionate about building asset-light software solutions to enable a sustainable future of work through technology while enhancing operational efficiency,” said Akshat Tripathi, Co-Founder of Qudify. “We feel proud to have enabled Carbon footprint reduction of 50Kg+ Co2eq since our launch, and we look forward to maximizing this number in the coming days.”
Qudify’s software suite eliminates the usage of any hardware except a smartphone (which everybody owns nowadays). It digitizes the below-mentioned manual, paper-based tasks still common in Indian offices today :
- Visitor check-in, check-outs & respective approvals & verifications
- Internal meeting room booking or scheduling
- Internal or external complaint management
By optimizing these critical yet often inefficient areas of office administration, Qudify optimizes productivity and minimizes the environmental impact of day-to-day workplace operations. Companies looking to establish and achieve sustainability goals while staying compliant can implement Qudify solutions to cut paper usage, decrease waste, and shrink their carbon footprint.
