iWorld
upGrad introduces online ‘Study Abroad’ program
KOLKATA: The Covid-19 pandemic played spoilsport with people’s plans to seek higher education at foreign universities. With the crisis showing no signs of abating soon, would-be-students are re-evaluating their priorities or are in quandary on how to fulfil their desire to “study abroad”. To overcome this challenge, edtech platform upGrad has unveiled a Study Abroad program to enable learners to experience on-campus learning with renowned international universities.
The idea of this initiative draws back from a recent survey conducted by the e-learning leader, wherein it was found that a lot of upGrad learners and alumni are still willing to travel and study abroad, to find employment in foreign regions. Responding to such emerging demands, but also keeping affordability in mind, as not everybody in such testing times is willing to make heavier financial commitments, upGrad has designed this unique model offering.
The program is designed carefully keeping in mind the online cost for one year, which is 1/10th of the offline expenses, thus offering dual benefits of being cost-effective, with an added advantage of mobility. Learners under this arrangement have a chance to study abroad and explore job opportunities in the respective region as per their choice in the coming future, at a cost significantly lesser than what they would have to pay for a fully on-campus foreign course.
With a target to achieve 50,000 learners by 2026, upGrad has already kicked off two such programs; the first being the pathway to Australian Universities where renowned Australian universities like the James Cook University, Brisbane Campus are participating, along with the second program, Master’s Degree in Data Science wherein learners will receive dual accreditation from IIIT Bangalore and the International University of Applied Sciences, Germany.
The newly introduced program is not only applicable for learners in India, but also geographies like the Middle East, southeast Asia, etc. It will also allow them to pursue the program in two parts: one-year online in India or from their respective countries, followed by an opportunity to complete their course on-campus abroad in the subsequent year/s.
upGrad India CEO Arjun Mohan said, “We have always aimed at providing quality transnational education to our learners who are currently residing across geographies. With the Covid-situation impacting international students’ mobility dramatically, we have now come up with a sustainable solution of the ‘Study Abroad’ program, where the learner spends this year studying online and moves abroad the next year to gain their global exposure or build a career there. With this one-of-a-kind program arrangement & Ankur’s joining us, we look forward to expanding the Bachelor’s market for studying abroad by making it affordable and relevant to the current market situation.”
He added that the higher learning platform is looking to close at least 20 university tie-ups as part of the initiative in the coming months.
Both programs are in-build with personalised mentorship from upGrad to offer a continuous handholding throughout the program modules and includes an end-to-end counselling/visa support to make the entire process and learning experience hassle-free for its learners. On the successful completion of the on-campus program in the second year, learners can also apply for a post-study-work visa in the destination country and build a career there.
iWorld
Prime Video to stream Tamil thriller Exam from May 15
Seven-episode series from National Award-winner A. Sarkunam streams in India and 240-plus countries
MUMBAI: Prime Video announced on April 27th that Exam, a taut seven-episode suspense drama set against the crucible of high-stakes competitive testing, will premiere on May 15th in India and across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
Written and directed by A. Sarkunam, a National Award-winner, the series is produced under the Wallwatcher Films banner by the creative duo Pushkar and Gayatri, who have previously delivered Suzhal: The Vortex (both seasons) and Vadhandhi: The Fable of Velonie for the platform. Dushara Vijayan and Aditi Balan lead the cast, with Abbas in a pivotal role.
The show will stream in Tamil with dubbed versions in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada, and subtitles in 15 languages, including English, a distribution sweep that underscores Prime Video’s push to globalise Indian regional content.
Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India, framed the series as both timely and commercially astute. “Exam is a very timely and relevant story that captures the emotional intensity of competitive exams and masterfully transforms it into a thrilling high-stakes drama,” he said. “We believe it is a story that will resonate deeply with millions.” Madhok noted that it was a privilege to once again collaborate with Pushkar and Gayatri following the success of Suzhal and Vadhandhi.
For Pushkar and Gayatri, the series is as much a moral reckoning as a thriller. “With Exam, we wanted to dig into ambition, injustice, and those moral crossroads that people face when pushed to the edge,” the creative producers said. “At the heart of this story is a young woman who refuses to remain powerless. Her journey is not about glamorising defiance, but about exploring the emotional and ethical cost of standing up to a system stacked against her.” They described Prime Video as “an incredible collaborator” and “the perfect home” to bring the series to global audiences.
Wallwatcher Films, which Pushkar and Gayatri founded and run, has been on a productive streak with the platform. Beyond Exam, the company is also readying Vadhandhi Season 2 for Prime Video, making the duo one of the platform’s most active regional creative partners.
The real exam, it seems, is for Prime Video itself: can a Tamil drama about systemic injustice and a young woman’s defiance crack audiences from Chennai to Chicago? If Pushkar and Gayatri’s track record is anything to go by, the answer is likely yes, and the results will be out on May 15th.
