The EdTech sector has witnessed tremendous churn post the pandemic. Some of the biggest names have seen their business models fail and investor confidence is at all-time lows. In this scenario a few individuals stand out for their clarity of purpose in pursuing business models that were not the “flavor of the month.” Business models rooted in the learners needs not wants and focused on methodology and outcome rather than just content and technology.

Consider an individual, deeply fascinated by the early waves of digital innovation, who felt an inherent pull towards a larger cause. This individual recognized early on that technology held the potential to revolutionize education and bridge gaps that traditional methods could not; but learners wanted outcomes not technological wizardry. This understanding was not a mere epiphany but a profound realization that would shape his professional journey.

Nalin K. Singh is a leader whose professional journey is a testament to strategic vision, innovation, and a deep commitment to educational advancement. Nalin’s work in Skilltech & Jobtech is driven by the belief that true innovation can democratize education and empower learners across the globe. His approach is practical and outcome based, ensuring that every solution his team develops is not only effective but also sustainable and scalable.

As the Managing Director of Cultus Education & Technology Services Pvt Ltd that operates the brand “Orbit Future Academy”, Nalin led the design of solutions, including the Orbit Skills Center with flexibility and scalability at their core, ensuring they could adapt to diverse educational contexts and reach broader audiences. Defining objectives, optimizing processes, and delivering the desired outcome were integral steps in his approach, each contributing to the effectiveness and credibility of his initiatives. His achievements were consistently presented to stakeholders and the broader community, showcasing the tangible impact of his work.

Nalin’s story is a beacon of professional excellence, highlighting how foresight and adaptability can lead to transformative advancements in education. His continued dedication to this field leaves us eager to witness the future milestones he will undoubtedly achieve, further solidifying his legacy as a leader in educational technology. He has focused on creating value versus chasing valuations.

Bridging the Gaps in Education through Technology

Nalin’s passion for education and his belief in its transformative power fueled his journey into the EdTech industry. He saw technology as a tool to bridge the gaps and challenges in traditional education systems, like limited access, outdated methods, and unequal opportunities with no guarantee of job or other outcomes. Nalin was determined to leverage technology to democratize education, empower all learners, and create a culture of lifelong learning.

Witnessing the tech revolution across industries, Nalin felt it was time to harness these advancements to redefine education for the digital age. This vision led him to develop Cultus Skilling & Jobtech, where he embarked on a mission to transform the education field.

Nalin’s journey has been one of exploration, innovation, and collaboration. He has worked alongside passionate educators, technologists, and learners to push the boundaries of what’s possible in education. Despite the challenges, Nalin remains driven by the opportunity to make a positive impact on learners worldwide. This continues to be his ultimate reward.

Redefining Education for the Outcome Era

The education landscape has shifted. Learners today demand engaging, personalized learning paths with guaranteed outcomes. Cultus recognizes this shift and prioritizes these outcomes over just delivering content and technology, both of which are readily available elsewhere.  They believe education is a fundamental right, and no learner should pay without a guaranteed benefit.

To stay ahead in this ever-evolving industry, Cultus employs several key strategies:

~Continuous Learning: Nalin and his team constantly research emerging technologies, pedagogical methods, and educational trends. This includes monitoring industry publications, attending conferences, and collaborating with thought leaders and educators.

~User-Centric Approach: They actively gather feedback from educators, students, administrators, and others to understand their needs, challenges, and goals. This feedback loop ensures that their solutions align with real-world requirements and preferences.

~Agile Development: They use agile development methodologies to iterate quickly, adapt to market changes, and respond promptly to user feedback. By breaking down development into smaller stages, they can experiment, test ideas, and make data-driven decisions to improve their solutions continuously.

~Collaboration is Key: Partnerships and collaboration are central to their approach. They work with educational institutions, technology providers, industry associations, and even government agencies. These partnerships leverage complementary expertise, access new markets, and co-create innovative solutions for complex challenges. Collaboration with industry to ensure that the Orbit Skills Center job ready candidates are placed into jobs on priority.

~Investing in the Future: They allocate resources to research and development (R&D) to explore new technologies, experiment with novel teaching and learning approaches, and anticipate future trends in education. Investing in R&D positions them as pioneers in the EdTech space.

~Flexible and Scalable Solutions: Their solutions are designed with flexibility and scalability in mind. This allows them to adapt to diverse educational settings, cater to various user needs, and expand their offerings to reach wider audiences. This flexibility ensures that they can respond to changing market demands and seize new opportunities.

By implementing these strategies, Cultus navigates the dynamic EdTech landscape with agility and a commitment to continuous innovation. This ensures they deliver value to clients and make a positive impact on education globally.

Empowering Expertise and the ‘Cultus Way’

Nalin diligently practices role modelling by personal example. He prefers to hire domain experts and empower them to build their teams and drive results within Cultus’s overall strategy.

The ‘Cultus Way’ is a proprietary approach consisting of four key components: Define, Optimize, Certify, and Showcase. Here’s a breakdown of each component:

*Define: This involves establishing clear objectives, goals, or parameters for a given project, process, or initiative. Defining the scope and purpose provides clarity and direction for subsequent actions.

*Optimize: This step focuses on analyzing the defined parameters and seeking ways to improve efficiency, effectiveness, or performance. Optimization often involves identifying bottlenecks, streamlining processes, or enhancing resources to achieve better outcomes. Nalin ensures that optimization efforts are targeted towards maximizing operational efficiency and achieving strategic goals.

*Certify: This component emphasizes obtaining official validation or accreditation to ensure that the defined objectives have been met and that optimized processes adhere to relevant standards or requirements. Certification provides stakeholders with assurance of quality and compliance.

*Showcase: Once objectives are defined, processes optimized, and certification obtained, this step involves presenting achievements and successes to relevant stakeholders or the broader community. Showcasing accomplishments helps build credibility, attract attention, and inspire others to adopt similar methodologies.

Innovation in Education

Cultus isn’t just about education; it’s about creating a social impact through technology. Nalin and his team partner with organizations like AWS Re/Start to equip unemployed youth with job-ready skills and have placed 2,500 young people in jobs within the last eighteen months. Their reach extends to teachers as well, with a one-million-strong upskilling initiative in partnership with Microsoft to improve classroom effectiveness through digital skills.

Cultus understands that education is key to opportunity, and its “Orbit Skills Center” program exemplifies this, aiming to impart digital skills to a staggering one million youths across ASEAN and India. But skilling isn’t limited to pre-program initiatives. Cultus’ Orbit Skills Centers, located across ASEAN and India, bridge the gap between graduation and employment, preparing graduates for the workforce through internships and job placements.

Further enhancing the learning experience, Nalin and his team utilize technology to personalize learning through AI, allowing students to progress at their own pace with content tailored to their individual needs and learning styles. Data plays a crucial role as well, with analytics employed to inform curriculum development, teaching strategies, and targeted student support. And to ensure accessibility, they’ve embraced mobile learning, creating user-friendly platforms that allow students to learn anytime, anywhere. Cultus is a leader in both education and social impact, leveraging technology to empower learners and equip them for the future.

Other high impact programs include digitally upskilling a million school teachers in Indonesia in partnership with Microsoft, training unemployed youth as a part of the AWS Re/Start program and placing them in jobs as well as conducting capacity enhancement programs with various ministries to empower trainers in government to deliver cutting edge technology courses.

Making a Difference through Innovation and Impact

Cultus prioritizes employee development through:

• Training and Development Programs: Equipping staff with the necessary skills to excel and progress in their careers. This includes workshops, online courses, and mentorship opportunities.
• Career Pathing and Progression: Providing clear paths for advancement within the company through performance evaluations, feedback, and promotion opportunities.
• Continuous Feedback and Coaching: Encouraging continuous learning through regular one-on-one meetings, peer-to-peer feedback, and a culture of coaching and support.
• Empowerment and Autonomy: Empowering employees with ownership and decision-making authority to foster accountability and engagement.

• Additionally, Nalin and his team values:

• Recognition and Rewards: Acknowledging and rewarding employee achievements and contributions.
• Communication and Transparency: Maintaining open communication to keep employees informed and aligned with company goals.

Cultus successfully navigated a recent industry slowdown due to a robust business model, an experienced leadership team, and continued support from shareholders and clients.

Focus on Real Solutions and Sustainable Growth

The EdTech industry is transforming, moving away from exploitative models and towards a learner-centric approach. At Cultus, Nalin ensures they recognize this shift and prioritizes real solutions and measurable outcomes over profit maximization. He says, “We reject preying on learners trapped in inefficient systems and instead focus on providing value that aligns with the desired results of learners.” This aligns perfectly with the current industry trend where EdTech companies need to demonstrate clear value propositions and prioritize ethical practices.

To achieve long-term success, Nalin and his team understand the importance of identifying genuine learner needs, delivering measurable results on those needs, and building a sustainable business model that focuses on user experience rather than excessive investor dependence. “By adhering to these principles, with Cultus, we are carving a niche for ourselves in the evolving EdTech landscape and positively impacting learners globally,” concludes Nalin.