Hyderabad, 22nd September: BITS Pilani’s Work Integrated Learning Programmes (WILP) and HCLTech, a leading global technology company, have reached a significant milestone in their industry-academia partnership, with 1,120 TechBee learners now having graduated from the BSc in Design and Computing programme
Uniquely designed for HCLTech TechBee professionals, the programme enables young employees to pursue a BITS Pilani degree while continuing to build their professional careers. With nine cohorts having now completed the programme, the partnership continues to create pathways for young professionals to combine higher education with workplace experience.
The HCLTech–BITS Pilani partnership began in 2017 and has since supported 19 batches and around 4,000 learners. The programme has also evolved with the changing technology landscape, with AI-related electives recently introduced to help learners build capabilities in emerging areas of technology.
Mr. Jagadeshwar Gattu, President – Digital Foundation Services, HCLTech, said, “Today is more than a graduation ceremony; it is a celebration of hard work, sacrifice, learning and achievement. As technology continues to evolve, continuous learning will be critical to building meaningful careers. This degree is a passport to new opportunities, but it is the learners’ attitude, integrity and commitment to learning that will help them make the most of those opportunities.”
Prof. S. Gurunarayanan, Director, BITS Pilani Work Integrated Learning Programmes (WILP), said, “At BITS Pilani WILP, we believe that meaningful education is strengthened when learning is closely connected with professional practice. The HCLTech–BITS Pilani collaboration has enabled young professionals to pursue a rigorous academic journey alongside their careers. This convocation is a celebration of their perseverance and achievement, and we congratulate all the graduates on this significant milestone.”
The partnership is now looking ahead to its next phase, including potential expansion to B.Tech programmes. The proposed expansion will build on the experience of the existing programme while continuing to align academic offerings with the evolving requirements of the technology industry.
ABOUT BITS PILANI WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING PROGRAMMES (WILP)
BITS Pilani’s Work Integrated Learning Programmes (WILP) are designed for working professionals, enabling them to pursue higher education while continuing to build their careers. For over 46 years, BITS Pilani WILP has worked closely with organisations to support talent development while helping professionals build new capabilities and advance their careers.
Today, 51,000+ learners are actively enrolled in BITS Pilani WILP programmes, supported by a 1.5 lakh+ strong alumni network across 32 countries. Trusted by 1,054 organisations, BITS Pilani WILP continues to bring academic learning closer to the evolving needs of professionals and the workplace.
