New Delhi, 20th December 2024: i-merit, the flagship program of Scholars Merit Online Pvt. Ltd., introduces its latest Nova courses tailored to support students in gearing up for the upcoming placement seasons. These courses are designed to provide a comprehensive blend of technical expertise and soft skills, preparing students to excel in interviews and secure rewarding job opportunities on and off-campus. As part of its expansion, i-merit will collaborate with over 100 colleges across North and Central India to empower 50,000 students.
One of the key challenges students face today is the outdated and overly theoretical curriculum in many traditional colleges. While students are being taught foundational knowledge, these curriculums often fail to equip them with the practical skills and real-world expertise that today’s employers seek. As technology advances rapidly, the speed at which it evolves is far outpacing the curriculum of traditional universities, leaving graduates unprepared to meet the expectations of the job market.
“The reality is that traditional college curriculums are no longer keeping pace with the demands of today’s rapidly changing job market. Despite gaining academic knowledge, many students find themselves underprepared for real-world challenges because the skills they need to succeed—both technical and interpersonal—are not being adequately taught. Our Nova courses are designed to bridge this gap, equipping students with the technical expertise and soft skills essential to stand out in competitive interviews and secure job placements. By collaborating with over 100 colleges this season, we aim to help 50,000 students gain the confidence and capabilities they need to succeed in their careers by March 2025,” said Sumit Shukla, CEO of Scholars Merit.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) report highlights a need to address and bridge the skills gap in India’s workforce. It shows that out of the 13 million people who join the workforce annually, only one-fourth of management professionals, one-fifth of engineers, and one-tenth of graduates are considered employable. In addition, a recent survey by TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship reveals that only 60% of IIT graduates secured placements in 2024, with the percentage of graduates meeting industry expectations significantly lower. When factoring in the increasing demand for advanced technology and AI skills, the employability figure drops even further, with only 0-15% of graduates fully meeting the industry’s needs.
The Nova courses offer a comprehensive curriculum to enhance students’ employability by building a strong foundation in industry-relevant skills. Improving employability skills hinges on mastering relevant technologies. Skills like NoSQL databases, cloud technologies, advanced CRM and ERP expertise, data platforms, AI & ML tools, and generative LLMs are critical today. Additionally, advanced programming skills such as Python and Java are essential for data engineering, with a focus on libraries like Pandas and NumPy for data manipulation and analysis. Students will also gain hands-on experience with tools like Jupyter notebooks for interactive coding and data visualization.
These programs are designed to help learners crack the most important interviews of their careers by equipping them with both the technical expertise required for specific roles and the soft skills necessary to thrive in professional environments.
The courses also emphasize the development of problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Employers value candidates who can analyze situations, make informed decisions, and approach challenges creatively, making these abilities a cornerstone of the Nova curriculum.
In the coming months, Scholars Merit plans to expand its network of collaborations, working closely with colleges across India to impact a larger student base. The goal is to empower students to face placement challenges confidently and increase their chances of securing employment opportunities.
