AP unveils industry-led work study university

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

In a major reform aimed at transforming higher education, the Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday launched Sri City International University (SIU), introducing India’s first industry-led work-study university model.

The initiative seeks to align higher education with evolving industry requirements by allowing employers to play a direct role in designing academic curricula and training students for future-ready careers.

Launching the university at Sri City, Education, IT, Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh said the traditional higher education model needs a fundamental shift to meet the demands of an AI-driven global economy. He noted that while India produces over nine million graduates annually, industries continue to face a shortage of job-ready professionals.

Unlike conventional universities, SIU will have its academic curriculum co-designed by industry partners and reviewed every year to keep pace with rapid technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and digital technologies. Industry experts will also help shape practical training modules, projects and competency standards.

“Technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Universities cannot update their curriculum once every few years and expect graduates to remain relevant. Industry must become an active partner in education, not merely the final recruiter. That is the vision behind Sri City International University,” Lokesh said.

A key feature of the university is its Work-Study Dual Model, under which students will spend nearly one-third of their academic time in classrooms and the remaining period working with industry partners. Every student will begin paid internships from the first year with a minimum monthly stipend of Rs 10,000, enabling them to graduate with more than two years of real-world industry experience.

Leveraging Sri City’s industrial ecosystem, which houses over 200 companies from more than 30 countries, the university will provide direct exposure to sectors such as electronics, automotive, engineering, logistics and advanced manufacturing.

To encourage entrepreneurship, SIU has also established Station-S, an incubation centre supporting startups in partnership with Gnan Circle Ventures. The university will begin admissions for the 2026-27 academic year with undergraduate programmes in Computer Science & Engineering, Advanced Manufacturing, Finance & Accounts, and Digital Media & Communications, positioning itself as a new model for industry-integrated higher education in India.