Education Knows No Barriers

Article Featured On: BizNewsConnect

But Constant Innovation Is The Key – WorldGrad

The WorldGrad helps students save time with multiple intakes and save up to 25% on their education costs.

The WorldGrad is a tech-enabled one stop solution for students planning to pursue higher education at universities abroad. It Offers Smart Programmes in partnership with overseas universities that help students break barriers to succeed academically through flexible and adaptive study routes. The WorldGrad is India’s largest study abroad programme platform and an award-winning education company with a team of 500+ certified educators across the world that has successfully delivered international education to 20,000+ students. The company has been handpicked by top 1000 institutions across the globe to bring overseas study programmes to international students. Amit Garga, Abhinav Mital, and Pranav Saxena incepted The WorldGrad in late 2019 and launched it in 2021. In this exclusive email interview with B N KUMAR, Editor of BizNewsConnect, ABHINAV discusses the WorldGrad’s pioneering efforts to enable the students study well and study abroad.

ABHINAV MITAL: We have spent over 15 years in the education industry, and our experience has helped us understand the audience and the challenges. The inspiration for The WorldGrad came right at the brink of India’s digital education revolution. We recognized the immense potential that lay amid overseas education and the advent of technology. While studying abroad is a dream of millions, sadly, 1 in 3 students fail at least one subject in the first semester of their studies. This failure is usually a result of the difference in the education system as well as the cultural shock that the students are heir to. The WorldGrad creates a seamless transition to bridge the academic gap. Additionally, we also help students save time with multiple intakes and save up to 25% on their education costs through fee subsidies, scholarships, and savings on living expenses.

BNC: There are physical as well as tech platforms that offer these kinds of student services. What is your USP or differentiator?

AM: LINCtrac, our learning management system, offers students insights and data that enable our team of 500+ educators to deliver the program seamlessly. The subjects are taught by qualified overseas professors and students can access unlimited 1-1 academic support. Our experienced student support team proactively guides our students throughout every step of their degree, be it academic or personal, setting us apart from the rest.

BNK: My generation grew up looking at Foreign Study Melas. Is that part of history now? What are the emerging trends?

AM: The direct study abroad route is still prominent and evolving. However, students who often opt for that route are faced with primary challenges such as costs, differences in education systems, the fear of missing an intake, and getting a student visa. With The WorldGrad tackling these problems, there is a possibility of things changing for the better in the coming years.

BNC: Credibility and trust matter when it comes to such services. How do you ensure it?

AM: Our award-winning Smart Programmes are recognized globally by leading universities in Australia, the UK, and the US. Our programmes are created in partnership with leading global universities and have a robust student progression rate of 95%. This demonstrates the value of our programmes and the credibility they hold among students.

BNC: Which are the popular destinations for study abroad now? Is the trend changing? If yes, why?

AM: To understand how demand for overseas education is evolving in India, we ran a survey earlier this year, which was sent out to over 13,000 students. Based on the responses, we learned that Australia is the most popular study-abroad destination for students wishing to pursue a bachelor’s degree abroad. For postgraduate aspirants, the US remains the most popular choice. We noted that employment opportunities, followed by the cost of education, continue to be the most crucial decision-making factor for this generation of students.

BNC: Which are the main subjects/faculties that you help the students with?

AM: Students can start their STEM or non-STEM degrees with The WorldGrad. Our programmes cover several majors, including Computer Science, Cybersecurity, International Business, and Marketing. Students can begin their course with us and then progress to Australia, the UK, or the US for the rest of their degrees. We offer them unlimited 1-1 academic support, 7 days a week. Our team of 500+ educators is experienced in delivering lectures and educating over 20,000 students. We also help them settle in the new country, find accommodation, and guide them through their studies.

BNC: What about financial help, such as loans and scholarships?

AM. We have partnered with GyanDhan, India’s largest education loan marketplace, to offer student loans at low-interest rates. With our Smart Programmes, students can study up to 1 year of their degree programme at 70% less cost than the amount they would pay on campus. In addition, our partner universities also offer exclusive scholarships to The WorldGrad’s students for their on-campus studies. For instance, Lander University offers a guaranteed scholarship of USD 36,000 to The WorldGrad’s students.

BNC: How is the programme outcome for students? What is the programme completion rate and the overseas progression rate?

AM. We have an excellent programme completion rate of 90% and an overseas progression rate of 95%. Our research suggested that 1 in 3 students fail in at least one subject in the first semester of their degree overseas because of the differences in academic norms and culture. However, with us, students have shown a much better success rate since they are acclimated to the academic environment even before they are on campus.

BNC: There is an impression that those who go abroad for study hardly come back. What is your experience? And if they come back, do they get satisfactory and gainful employment?

AM: Whether students choose to come back or settle abroad is a personal choice. However, if they return, they receive satisfactory and gainful employment opportunities in India. For instance, a degree from a top 1 or 2% global university is valuable for job seekers whether they stay back in their study abroad destination or come back to India. With an MS in India, students earn an average of INR 9,20,000 yearly. However, an MS in the US pays an average salary of USD 82,000 yearly, which translates to over INR 62,00,000.