Thiruvananthapuram, 13 November 2026: MaxEd, the business intelligence initiative of i-miRa Knowledge Solutions specialising in market research and data analytics, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Scholactor, the student career and self-exploration platform, to jointly deliver industry-certified upskilling programmes in academic institutions.
The MoU was signed at Huddle Global 2026, the Kerala Startup Mission’s flagship startup festival, held from 12 to 14 November at The Leela Raviz, Kovalam. Arun K Nair, Business Head, MaxEd, and Mahesh Mohan, Founder, Scholactor, signed the agreement on behalf of their organisations.
The signing took place in the presence of Dr Kiran Vijay, CEO, AIC IIITKottayam Foundation the incubation centre of the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Kottayam, set up under the Atal Innovation Mission of the Government of India. His presence underlines the role that academic institutions and their innovation ecosystems can play in building industry-ready skills among students.
Under the partnership, the two organisations will offer four certificate courses to students in schools and colleges. Each course prepares learners for a globally recognised certification issued by the technology company that owns it.
The four certificate courses
| Certificate course | Parent-body certification | Certifying body |
| Certificate Course in Cybersecurity | Cisco Certified Cybersecurity Technician (CCST) | Cisco |
| Certificate Course in Spreadsheet & Data Skills | Microsoft 365 Apps – Excel Associate | Microsoft |
| Certificate Course in Digital Marketing | Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate | Meta |
| Certificate Course in Business Applications | Zoho Certified Prime Student | Zoho |
Students completing a course will earn a certificate of completion and be prepared to take the corresponding parent-body certification, giving them a credential that employers recognise beyond the campus.
Why it matters
Kerala produces a large pool of graduates every year, but employers consistently point to a gap between academic learning and job-ready skills. The partnership addresses that gap by placing vendor-certified, skill-specific courses inside the academic calendar rather than leaving students to find them on their own.
Scholactor brings its guided career platform psychometric assessment, AI-assisted career pathways and a personal life blueprint so students can choose a certification that fits their strengths. MaxEd brings market research and data analytics insight into what employers across South India need, and its network of academic and corporate partners to take the programmes to institutions.
What the signatories said
Arun K Nair, Business Head, MaxEd, said: “Our research work across South India keeps telling us the same thing employers want proof of skill, not just a degree. With Scholactor, we can put that proof within reach of students while they are still on campus. Cisco, Microsoft, Meta and Zoho certifications carry weight with recruiters, and we want students in Kerala to graduate with them.”
Mahesh Mohan, Founder, Scholactor, said: “Scholactor was built to take a student from ‘I’m confused’ to clear goals. Industry certification is the natural next step on that journey. Partnering with MaxEd lets us take these courses to many more institutions and connect them to what the market actually needs.”
For institutions
Schools and colleges interested in offering the certificate courses to their students can contact MaxEd or Scholactor through their websites.
About MaxEd
MaxEd is the business intelligence initiative of i-miRa Knowledge Solutions, based in Kochi, Kerala. It specialises in market research and data analytics, helping brands, enterprises and institutions make decisions grounded in evidence. MaxEd has completed more than 90 research projects across Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, including the largest opinion survey in Kerala and the first Kerala-specific industry sector reports. Website: www.maxed.in
About Scholactor
Scholactor is a career and life-exploration platform for students, run by Vivekayogi Knowledge Services Pvt Ltd, in partnership with IIIT Kottayam. Its four-step journey assessment, career pathway, life blueprint and certificate helps school and college students make informed career choices. It also offers industry certification programmes and bulk access for institutions. Scholactor has offices in Kochi, Bengaluru and New Delhi. Website: www.scholactor.com
