UPGRAD TO LAUNCH 10 CAMPUSES WORLDWIDE

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- Educational technology (edtech) major upGrad is taking a giant step in offline higher education with the launch of a new brand, UGDX, which stands for the company’s massive thrust in emerging digital technologies.

With an investment of US$30 million (RM142 million), UGDX will open 10 institutes in the next year in the United States (US), India, Singapore and the Middle East, the Mumbai-based company said.

“UGDX will specialise in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, cybersecurity, blockchain, connected devices, Internet of things, quantum computing, digital management, leadership courses and the cloud,” upGrad said in a statement.

UGDX will offer certificates, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programmes in these areas.

The X factor to UGDX is the edtech company’s recently acquired International School of Engineering (INSOFE), a data science, AI, machine learning-focused offline institute in India.

Three of the upcoming institutes will be in the US, with the San Francisco unit to go live in January 2023. The other institutes include five in India across Delhi and Chennai, to add to its existing facilities in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore, as well as one each in Singapore and the Middle East.

“As part of our goal to be the world’s first and largest fully integrated higher edtech company spanning college learners and working professionals from the age of 18 to 60+ years, this is a natural extension as we move to a very scaled blended offline and online model under our own upGrad brand,” said upGrad co-founder and chairperson Ronnie Screwvala.

According to the statement, UGDX is slated to reach operational break-even in five quarters from its launch.

“The plan is also to have faculty recruitments in various geographies and to use technology to seamlessly integrate campuses, faculty, and corporates within one ecosystem,” upGrad said.

-- BERNAMA