Polaris School of Technology: Redefining Indian Tech Talent with Skill-Based Education

At the time when the question of what traditional engineering education is good for lingers in the air, Polaris School of Technology (PST) is taking a silent but firm step towards defining the future of Indian tech talent students right after Class 12. Whereas most engineering students in India are stuck in theoretical studies during their first three years, 18-19 year olds at Polaris are already contributing to places like Google Summer of Code during their first years. It is not a coincidence, but an outcome of a long-term oriented educational model.

Support from cricket icon and former captain Sourav Ganguly is a key reason Polaris is among the first institutions in India to fully align with the National Education Policy (NEP).  As it has been emphasised in the recent governmental and educational reports, there is a considerable focus in this policy on the practical, skill-driven learning and experience, rather than the memorisation of the theory. The reason behind Ganguly supporting PST is not too different from his famous philosophy in nurturing the young talent, which has now earned a new home in the tech world where Ganguly has pushed PST forward with a mission to develop DOERS and not just exam-toppers.

The campus of PST is meant to depict its culture of real-world preparedness. The era of old fashioned chalk boards and obsolete labs have long gone. Rather, students are equipped with actual, working Drone, AR/VR, and IoT labs, so that day-one will come to them with hands-on experience working on technology as good as what happens in industry. Guidelines provided in NEP 2025 also mention that modern education requires such a combination of advanced technology and digital learning resources and PST is one of the pioneers.

According to one of the most senior faculty members at PST, it does not make sense to wait until the third year to work on the code or technology here. In the first semester, students build drones, create AI models, and work on real-world projects and pitch them. The practice follows NEP 2025 which fosters personalized, flexible, and competency-based learning, with students self-pacing and showing achievement mastery in concrete projects and results.

The outcomes of this practice-oriented skill-based practice are already observable. Not only do Polaris students publish research and build startups but also out-compete peers at elite colleges to win sought after internships, placements, and global fellowships. The new dynamic in PST is that firms are now paying preliminary visits to recruit prospective employees, a role played by job hunters in other areas outside the Indian IT parks.

It is a straightforward tie-up to the vision of the NEP 2025 through its idea of ensuring the students of higher education have at least 50% exposure to vocational and applied learning by 2025. This shift is reflected in the model of PST, according to which students are involved in industry projects, work-integrated courses, and real world problem solving at the initial stages of their course.

The change at PST cannot be in isolation. The NEP 2025 is instigating a silent revolution in learning systems and processes across India where the direction is on applied, skill-based learning differently. This involves fitting in aspects like smart classrooms, digital labs, and individualized learning paths that will equip the students to make it in the ever-changing world of labor. As opposed to the former situation, in which skills appeared to be a downstream thought, prominent colleges are integrating them in the very heart of the curriculum.

In many instances it is too late after Class 12 to become a computer science, AI or machine learning professional, but students who want this kind of future can use Polaris School of Technology since it is a strong alternative to four-year engineering institutions. Its community is aligned to NEP 2025, industrial liaisons, and hands-on learning, so it is not only producing graduates who are hire-able, but they are immediately ready-to-go innovators because of the training.

With the Indians shifting towards a more flexible, skills-based and competitive model of higher education that is relevant globally, the pioneering model of PST represents a glimpse of the future of engineering education where the students do not just study technology, they make it on the first day.

To sum up, Polaris School of Technology proves that Indian higher education could leave behind the old model and thrive in a future which appreciates skills, inventiveness, and the ability to succeed in a real-world environment. Through its strong connection to NEP 2025 and an investment in practical learning, enhanced infrastructure, and industry partnerships, PST is not only positioning students to work, but it is making students ready to create, innovate and lead in the future of the global tech industry. To Class 12 students who want to play a true role in the world of technology, Polaris is a guiding light of what can happen when the world changes and so should the student.