Outcome-based learning remains NIIT's focus, says CEO Pankaj Jathar

NIIT CEO Pankaj Jathar says learning outcomes depend on instructor-led, mentor-guided education, as the company expands AI and digital training programmes globally

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Gurugram-headquartered NIIT Limited will continue to follow an outcome-based learning approach for students instead of uploading courses for people to learn on their own, company chief executive officer (CEO) Pankaj Jathar said.

 

“Just putting a course out there does not impact the outcome. That is why we have stuck to saying that learning will need an instructor, a teacher or mentor who will help you learn,” Jathar told Business Standard.

 

The 44-year-old learning solutions company, which is present in more than 10 countries worldwide, is open to the idea of reopening physical classrooms that were shut down during Covid. This will depend on demand from learners, Jathar said. 

For now, the company is investing more in its digital platform by expanding the number of courses available to learners across the enterprise and individual learner segments. 

For example, NIIT has reintroduced the GNIIT course, an extensive 'learn-as-you-work' programme that starts with the basics of coding and can extend up to three years.

 

The company will also introduce a course soon for developing agentic artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for users with some experience in software development and coding, Jathar said.

 

Although the core of the platform is the same for both types of users, the motivation for learning is significantly different for the two segments, he said.

 

“The enterprise trainee does not need gamification of the course as compared to the individual learner whose motivation to learn can be completely different,” Jathar said.

 

To make organisations catch up with the progress in AI, NIIT is also conducting awareness workshops for Indian companies. Here, it will engage with leadership teams on various use cases for AI, including how it can improve productivity, among others, he added.

 

“All our traditional courses now have AI as a default component. We are also introducing courses specialising in AI for practitioners. One is for consumers or individual learners, offering a short and swift course that focuses on familiarisation with what AI is. For practitioners, it is more deep-tech focused,” Jathar said.

 

NIIT is also expanding its focus from being a provider of only technical knowledge solutions to a platform that can also provide knowledge and training in the banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) space, as well as sales and management.

 

To augment its presence in this space, the company will also continue to explore inorganic expansion, he said.