In a move set to transform the upskilling landscape for young Indians, Glance, the AI-powered smart lock screen platform, has partnered with upGrad, one of India’s leading edtech unicorns. Together, they aim to provide free, job-ready skills training to millions of young people across the country, with a special focus on those aged 20-24 years.
The partnership brings upGrad’s Intern-Zip program to Glance’s platform, offering free courses that help bridge the skill gap and improve employability. With Glance’s massive user base and upGrad’s expertise in education, the collaboration promises to empower young people with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive in today’s competitive job market.
What is Glance’s Role in Empowering India’s Youth?
Glance is an innovative, AI-driven platform that delivers engaging content directly to users’ Android lock screens. With more than 235 million active users every day, 47% of whom are under 24 years old, Glance has become a major force in delivering personalized, relevant content to young people across India.
Through its “Glance for Good” program, the platform aims to use its reach for social good by promoting personal growth and addressing important societal issues. The partnership with upGrad is a crucial step in this direction, enabling Glance to offer free, curated educational content to help young Indians prepare for the workforce.
The Intern-Zip program from upGrad provides job-ready skills in areas like technical expertise, soft skills, and professional development. By bringing these essential courses directly to users’ lock screens, Glance makes it easier for young people to access valuable learning resources at no cost.
Why This Partnership Matters
India’s youth unemployment rate is a pressing issue, with a 13.4% unemployment rate among graduates. This means that millions of young people are struggling to find meaningful work, despite having completed their education. The Glance-upGrad partnership aims to tackle this challenge head-on by helping youth gain the skills they need to build successful careers.
By providing these free courses on Glance’s lock screens, the initiative offers a convenient and accessible way for users to learn new skills while going about their daily lives. Whether it’s learning technical skills for the modern workforce or improving soft skills like communication and time management, the courses are designed to prepare users for today’s fast-evolving job market.
In just three weeks since the launch of the partnership, upGrad’s content has already garnered over 100 million views (or glances) on Glance’s platform, showing the high level of engagement among young users. This demonstrates the enormous potential of combining education with smart tech to create impactful learning experiences.
What Courses Does the Intern-Zip Program Offer?
The Intern-Zip program offers free, easy-to-access courses focused on essential areas of professional development. Some of the topics covered include:
- Technical Skills: Courses to help young people become more proficient in in-demand areas like coding, digital marketing, and data analytics.
- Soft Skills: Programs that teach communication, leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving — all of which are crucial in today’s professional world.
- Professional Development: Training that helps users understand workplace etiquette, time management, and other essential career-building strategies.
The courses are specifically designed to cater to the needs of graduates and young professionals looking to enhance their skills and increase their chances of landing a job. Given that many young Indians don’t have easy access to traditional training programs, this initiative helps level the playing field by providing high-quality education for free, directly on their smartphones.
The Leadership Behind the Partnership
Piyush Shah, Co-founder of InMobi and COO & President of Glance, shared his excitement about the collaboration, saying, “With Glance, we’re not only reaching millions—we’re empowering them to seize opportunities and discover something new every moment. By bringing upGrad’s workforce-ready content directly to smart lock screens, we’re equipping users with technical expertise, soft skills, and professional development tools. We’re creating a platform that fuels career growth, closes the skills gap, and directly contributes to India’s future.”
Mayank Kumar, Co-founder of upGrad, also expressed his enthusiasm: “India has now become a global epicenter of learning and skilling, and this is the most opportune time to scale our value proposition to a different demographic altogether. Partnering with Glance allows us to expand our reach and leverage smart tech integration, further reinforcing our commitment to this cause.”
Glance’s Expanding Impact on India’s Digital Landscape
Founded in 2019, Glance has quickly become a leader in delivering personalized, AI-curated content directly to users’ lock screens. The platform offers a wide range of engaging experiences, from sports updates and entertainment news to shopping offers and interactive games, all available in seven Indian languages.
With its vast user base and cutting-edge AI technology, Glance has the unique ability to deliver relevant content based on individual preferences and needs. This makes it an ideal platform for upGrad to reach young people who might not typically have access to formal learning resources.
By partnering with upGrad, Glance is enhancing its social impact and fulfilling its mission to improve lives through accessible, free education.
The Future of Digital Upskilling in India
The Glance-upGrad partnership is a powerful example of how digital platforms can be harnessed to drive social change and economic empowerment. By providing free access to essential upskilling resources, the two companies are helping to equip India’s youth with the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing job market.
The partnership also comes at a time when India is positioning itself as a global hub for digital transformation, with young people playing a critical role in driving innovation. As technology continues to reshape industries and job requirements, initiatives like this will be key to ensuring that the workforce is prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the future.
For young Indians, Glance and upGrad are opening doors to a brighter future, one that’s filled with opportunities for career growth, personal development, and economic mobility.
Conclusion: A Game-Changer for India’s Youth
The collaboration between Glance and upGrad is a groundbreaking initiative that is set to change the way young Indians upskill and prepare for their professional futures. By providing free access to job-ready courses directly on users’ smartphones, this partnership makes it easier than ever for India’s youth to gain the skills needed to thrive in today’s fast-evolving job market.
With the combination of Glance’s AI-powered smart platform and upGrad’s world-class educational content, young people now have the tools to unlock their potential and build a successful career. As more users engage with these courses, we can expect a significant reduction in the skills gap and an increase in employability, setting India’s youth up for success in the global economy.