How university-edtech collaborations are contributing to building India’s AI-ready workforce

India has more STEM graduates each year than almost any other nation. Yet according to Mercer-Mettl's India Graduate Skill Index 2025, only 42.6% of those graduates are readily employable, a figure that has slipped from 44.3% in 2023.

The answer is not to rebuild higher education from scratch, but to evolve it through collaboration. A growing cohort of forward-looking Indian universities is doing exactly that by co-creating curricula with edtech platforms that deliver practitioner-led content, live instruction, and outcome-linked assessment. The results offer a compelling blueprint for the sector.

India’s skills moment by the numbers

42.6% of Indian graduates are employable (Mercer-Mettl, 2025)
11.7% of tech job postings now mention AI explicitly (ET Sep 2025)
75% of higher education institutions are not yet industry-ready (TeamLease EdTech, 2026)


Simplilearn and aligned universities have three types of engagement: direct integration of courses into the university curriculum, credit-based special training courses for skill development, and library integration for practical skill-building.

LPU and Simplilearn: AI learning embedded in the degree
In January 2026, Lovely Professional University (LPU), ranked A++ by NAAC and 31st in the NIRF 2025 University category, partnered with Simplilearn for Business to deliver the Professional Certificate Program in AI and Machine Learning for its B.Tech Computer Science and Engineering (AI/ML) cohort. Built around the three pillars of modern AI, Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Supervised Learning, the programme is designed not as a standalone elective, but as a direct complement to LPU’s academic framework, explicitly aligned with NAAC and NBA accreditation criteria.

The learning model combines live expert-led sessions, hands-on projects, proctored assessments with coding challenges, and aptitude tests, and AI-powered mock interviews that adapt in real time to each student’s responses. Learners can pursue globally recognised certifications from Google Cloud, Microsoft, and AWS as they progress.

“This partnership is helping bridge the gap between evolving skills and academic learning, ensuring students gain access to the most sought-after competencies,” said Krishna Kumar, Founder and CEO, Simplilearn.

Dr Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Vice Chancellor of LPU, framed the intent clearly: “We intend to provide academically relevant learning that prepares students for employability and not merely for grades. Our partnership with Simplilearn marks an important step towards realising our aspiration to make our students job-ready with the latest technologies. We are steadily moving towards digital transformation, both in how we teach and in what our learners gain from it.”

KRCT: A sevenfold leap in 12 months
K Ramakrishnan College of Technology (KRCT) in Tiruchirappalli, A+ accredited by NAAC and NBA-certified across four engineering disciplines, began its Simplilearn engagement in 2024 with a focused pilot of Data Science programmes for 130 students. Within a year, driven by strong student outcomes and parent endorsement, enrolment grew to over 900 learners across AI & Data Science, AI & ML, CSE, and Information Technology departments.

The platform results speak for themselves: over 40,000 live class hours accessed, more than 550 industry certifications earned, over 2,500 projects completed, and a Net Promoter Score of 86. Students progress through role-aligned pathways such as AI Engineer, Data Scientist, Applied Generative AI, Full Stack Developer, Cybersecurity Expert, supported by adaptive mock interview simulations that give them unlimited practice before entering placement processes.

“The remarkable growth from 130 to 900-plus learners within a year reflects students’ strong appetite for outcome-driven education,” said Krishna Kumar, Founder and CEO, Simplilearn.

Dr. K Ramakrishnan, Chairman of KRCT, noted the tangible impact: “The response from our students and their parents has been exceptional. Simplilearn's live learning model, through the SLH+ platform, provides the perfect balance between flexibility and structured guidance. Students appreciate the access to industry experts, hands-on projects, and globally recognised certifications. This partnership has significantly enhanced our placement outcomes and student satisfaction, making it a win-win for all stakeholders.”

NMIT: Turning placement ambition into measurable outcomes
The partnership with SimpliLearn marks a key milestone in Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology’s (NMIT) ongoing commitment to world-class student training. By giving students access to cutting-edge, industry-led courses and real-time project experiences, this collaboration bridges the gap between classroom learning and professional practice. In line with its motto that Nitte (Deemed to be University) is a place “Where there is space for every dream”, the initiative equips students with the skills and confidence to excel in today’s competitive industry landscape.

NMIT deployed Simplilearn Learning Hub+ (SLH+) with focused tracks in Data, AI, and AI-enabled Full Stack Java, alongside AI-powered mock interview tools. With 99% of licenses activated, the platform delivered over 14,000 live class hours, unlocked more than 360 certifications, and achieved a Net Promoter Score of 70+.

"At Simplilearn, we believe every student deserves access to the skills that employers are actively hiring for. NMIT's near-complete license activation and strong NPS are proof that when institutions commit fully to outcome-driven learning, students respond with equal enthusiasm," said Simplilearn chief Krishna Kumar.

Air Cmde Vasant Navad (Retd), Director Career & Placement at NDU, Bengaluru, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Our partnership with Simplilearn has given our students a decisive edge, both in the depth of technical skills they now bring to interviews and in their confidence in navigating the placement process. The results have helped our students upskill into an industry-ready talent pool and reinforced our belief that industry-aligned learning is essential to meet the demands of future-ready, AI-driven careers.”

Why the model works and where it is heading
Three forces make university-edtech collaboration particularly effective at this moment in India. First, content currency: edtech platforms update programmes in weeks, not semesters. Second, assessment depth: Simplilearn’s Learning Hub+ (SLH+) platform delivers proctored coding and non-coding assessments with quality analysis benchmarked against live industry standards, infrastructure that most universities cannot sustain independently. Third, regulatory alignment: Simplilearn’s programmes are designed to strengthen NAAC and NBA outcomes, turning a skilling partnership into an accreditation asset.

India’s National Education Policy 2020 and the 2025 Union Budget, which introduced AI-driven education grants and skill development support, have created a policy environment that actively rewards this kind of integration. According to an earlier research report, 62% of surveyed respondents were planning to increase their AI budgets in 2025. In the present scenario, AI is no longer a buzzword in the corporate world. These

The universities that define India’s AI talent story will be those that treat employability as a design principle from year one, not a placement-season afterthought. Collaborative curriculum, co-owned by academia and industry, is how that principle becomes practice.