Empowering educators: Inside the EdTech startup Suraasa’s mission to revolutionize teacher career growth
CXOToday has engaged in an exclusive interview withMr. Rishabh Khanna, Founder, and CEO of Suraasa.
- Please tell us about Suraasa and the services provided by the brand.
At Suraasa, we are deeply committed to supporting teachers and improving the quality of education worldwide. We recognise the vital role teachers play in shaping future generations and understand the importance of providing them with the necessary support to progress in their careers.
Our journey began by addressing two fundamental questions: Why do teachers have fewer growth opportunities and career success compared to other professionals? And why is there a significant shortage of highly skilled teachers? Through years of extensive research and training in teacher education worldwide, we discovered critical deficiencies in the education system that needed to be addressed for the growth and satisfaction of educators.
Driven to make a difference on a larger scale, we established Suraasa in 2017 with a simple concept: to provide top-quality teacher education that is relevant at all stages of a teacher’s career on a global scale, using technology to achieve this.
Today, Suraasa is the leading career growth platform for teachers globally, offering services such as mentorship from in-house experts, practical pedagogy skills training, internationally-accredited qualifications, and exciting growth opportunities. We have created the largest community of successful and motivated teachers, and we are proud to say that over 250,000 teachers from 45+ countries are currently on our platform.
Our mission at Suraasa is to impact millions of teachers, recognising that by helping them grow, we can create a ripple effect that will have a positive impact on society and future generations. It is incredibly fulfilling to see the positive impact we are making, and we are just getting started.
- How is technology a differentiator in the edtech revolution of the country?
I completely agree that technology is a game-changer in the education industry, and it’s a significant differentiator.
One of the primary ways that technology is transforming education is by solving the problem of access to education. With digital tools, anyone, anywhere, can access high-quality education at their fingertips. This is especially important in a country like India, where there are still significant barriers to education in rural areas and underprivileged communities.
But beyond access, technology is also helping students as well as working professionals (including teachers) to be more efficient and effective in their roles. Let’s say, for example, digital tools can help automate administrative tasks like grading and tracking student progress, which frees up a lot of a teacher’s time. This means they can focus on what really matters, like planning lessons and engaging with students. And with the rise of online teaching platforms, teachers can reach a global audience, expanding their reach and impact.
So, technology is a powerful tool that is transforming the education industry in countless ways. It’s a significant differentiator in the edtech revolution of the country, and we’re excited about the role that Suraasa is playing in harnessing its potential to help teachers grow and succeed.
- How is Suraasa using technology for upskilling teachers around the globe?
Imagine you’re a teacher in a remote village in India, passionate about your job and committed to providing the best education to your students. However, you struggle with limited access to professional development opportunities and mentoring. You want to do things, but you are not sure why or how.
Enter Suraasa, the world’s first career growth platform for teachers, on a mission to empower teachers. And at the heart of Suraasa’s approach to upskilling teachers around the globe is the innovative use of technology.
Through our online platform, we provide teachers with access to practical pedagogy skills training and mentorship from in-house experts, regardless of their location or time zone. This means that teachers anywhere can learn from the best around the world while sitting in the comfort of their own homes. Technology has removed geography as a barrier to accessing quality education.
Our platform is designed to cater to the unique needs of every teacher, ensuring that they receive the support and resources that are most relevant to them. We use a variety of digital tools, including video tutorials, online courses, and interactive webinars, to deliver our training and mentorship services. In this process, we leverage the power of technology to provide personalised content and feedback, ensuring that each teacher gets the support they need to grow in their career.
Lastly, we make sure our platform is highly interactive. We are continuously providing teachers with opportunities to connect with their peers, engage in discussions and debates, and apply their learning in practical ways.
Overall, technology plays a crucial role in our approach to providing quality teacher education and upskilling by making it more accessible, personalised, and interactive.
- What should be the roadmap for providing exposure/upskilling to the Indian teaching community?
I strongly believe that providing exposure and upskilling to the Indian teaching community should be a top priority for the education sector. We need to move away from the traditional mindset that once a teacher has acquired a degree and certification, they are fully equipped to teach for the rest of their career. And the National Education Policy 2020 is a step in the right direction. But we need to ensure that it is effectively implemented and supported by the government. We need policies that promote continuous professional development for teachers, offer financial incentives, and create a culture of lifelong learning.
Apart from that, we need to create opportunities for teachers to collaborate and share best practices. This can be done through online communities, peer mentoring programs, and professional networks. Suraasa is already building a large and vibrant community of teachers, and we are committed to creating opportunities for Indian teachers to connect with their peers and learn from each other.
As mentioned earlier, technology can be a game changer in this regard if we happen to leverage digital tools to make teacher training more accessible, cost-effective, and engaging for teachers. So, overall, what it essentially requires is a holistic approach that involves government support, access to quality training, use of technology, and collaboration and networking.
- Any new features or technological advancements that Suraasa is planning to introduce in the market?
We are always looking for ways to innovate and improve our offerings to teachers worldwide.
One of our latest initiatives is the development of a large and vibrant online community platform for teachers. This platform will enable teachers to connect with one another, share their experiences, and support each other in their professional journeys. It will be a place where teachers can inspire, learn, engage and share their career trajectories.
Our community platform will leverage the latest technological advancements to offer a seamless and engaging experience to teachers. We are incorporating advanced features such as live events, webinars, and discussion forums, which will enable teachers to engage with one another and with our in-house experts.
We believe that this platform will be a game-changer for the teaching community. It will not only provide teachers with a space to connect and learn, but it will also enable them to expand their professional networks. We are excited about the possibilities this platform holds and look forward to launching it in the near future.
In addition to this, we are also exploring other technological advancements to enhance the overall experience for our learners. Course Planners, Mobile apps, and Learning Analytics, are a few of them.
