AP launches work-study university at Sri City to tackle graduate employability crisis

Tirupati: In a major bid to bridge the widening gap between traditional academics and industrial demands, Sri City International University (SIU) was formally inaugurated by state HRD and IT minister Nara Lokesh at it’s interim campus at Sri City in Tirupati district on Thursday.SIU is pioneering a new education system of work-study dual model in India — designed from the ground up to ensure that every graduating student is employable with industry relevant skills.The launch comes at a defining moment for Indian higher education. India produces more than nine million graduates every year, yet only about 42.6% are assessed as employable; more than half of those who do find work are in roles below their qualification, and over 80% of employers report serious skill gaps.

SIU calls this the Bharat Employability and Jobs Challenge — and has been established to solve it. In the work-study dual model, students spend roughly a third of their time learning on campus and the remainder working as interns with industry partners.The curriculum is co-designed with industry partners and updated annually to keep pace with the rapidly evolving AI-driven industrial landscape, ensuring that students acquire the knowledge, skills, and competencies demanded by the future of work.

To promote Entrepreneurship, SIU has already set up an Incubation Center (Station-S) at its campus. Around 10 startups have commenced operations with the support of Station-S & Gnan Circle Ventures, a Cat-I Venture Capital Fund. Nara Lokesh observed “Our young people have the ability and the ambition; what they need is an education that connects directly to work… Andhra Pradesh is proud to lead the nation in solving this challenge”.The minister observed “What makes this model possible is the extraordinary ecosystem of Sri City, where more than 200+ companies from over 30 countries operate across a wide range of industries. Few places in the country or the world bring industry and education together so closely. Students at SIU will learn and work alongside leading global companies right where they study, and Andhra Pradesh is proud to be home to an institution that turns this advantage into real opportunity for our young people”.For its inaugural 2026–27 academic year, admissions are officially open for four targeted undergraduate paths co-designed alongside industrial leaders. The school is offering engineering tracks with a B Tech in Computer Science and Engineering as well as a B Tech in Advanced Manufacturing. On the management side, options include a BBA in Finance and Accounts alongside a BBA in Digital Media and Communications.