With the increase in demand for digitally skilled people now more than ever in the ever growing age of information and software, the Indian Institute of Digital Education (IIDE) - a reputed digital institute known for providing world-class education, resources, and career opportunities to its students in the digital marketing industry - was recently launched in Nepal. Rishi Agarwal, CEO and founder of Apala Jewels, along with Anchita Bhimsaria, who hails from an education and management background with a decade of experience, in partnership with Karan Shah, an edu-premeur, Tedx speaker, and founder of IIDE, launched IIDE Nepal in pursuit of guiding and training anyone interested in taking digital marketing courses in the country. The institute has also announced merit-based scholarships of up to Rs 68,000 for a limited time on their four-month certification digital marketing training for Nepali students. Sangay Sherpa of The Himalayan Times met Shah to gain his insight into the digital marketing industry, its importance, and IIDE's role in Nepal. Excerpts:

Can you share with us the journey behind IIDE being launched in Nepal?

In 2020, all of our courses went online following the pandemic. During the initial months, some Nepali students started enrolling in IIDE and we saw relative patterns over a certain time. Although we have been trying to enter Nepal for the past two years, things weren't going as planned. In 2022, I met with our partners, who understand the market and the digital market industry here, and came to terms with bringing IIDE to Nepal once again. We held meetings with many agency owners beforehand and got them onboard as they play an important role for us and the students. We have been waiting for the launch of IIDE Nepal for the past six months and we are happy to announce our presence here.

Can you elaborate on the types of programmes and trainings that IIDE offers and how the institute prepares its students for a career in digital marketing?

For starters, we have a free course that will introduce and help them understand the types of subjects and courses within digital marketing. One can take the two-hour long free course to take their next step into digital marketing.

The next course is a oneto two-week certification course where students can select a relative subject they are interested in. We also provide a four-month programme, where one will learn everything in digital marketing that is more employment- and internship-oriented.

The course requires a student to go through extensive résumé training, interview training, interview negotiation, and company identification, among others.

IIDE also provides an 11-month post-graduation programme, which comes with a two-month built-in internship programme. Students will undergo digital marketing training alongside working through internships in one of our partner agencies and will also receive a full-time job offer in the same company.

Apart from our courses and solutions, we have a range of video content covering every topic in digital marketing by our professors and professionals, which the students will have access to as well. The video contents contain absolute experts, working in giant companies and local professors who are working in the digital marketing field which can provide students with clear insight into the course they are taking.

What sets IIDE Nepal apart from other institutes that provide similar solutions in the market?

IIDE provides a structured protocol for effective learning, a community for students, assistance in job placements as well as managerial and self-development training, which set the institute apart from other institutions that are also providing similar courses.

Moreover, there is one professor who teaches an entire digital marketing course in Nepal, which is very hard to imagine. Digital marketing consists of multiple subjects that have their respective segments which are more or less important for each respective individual.

IIDE has a different professor every 15 to 20 hours, who are all part of largescale companies and have years of experience.

A student enrolled in a 200-hour long course will learn from at least 14 different professors over time. We have a huge talent pool of professors whom the students can learn from. The students will surely be provided with essential knowledge regarding the courses they are taking by them.

IIDE also provides a community for students where they will be able to meet the right kinds of people in a learning atmosphere.

Furthermore, job placement for students is the utmost priority for IIDE. We are not only here to teach but to also assist them in their career path of digital marketing and I believe these things are what make IIDE distinct from other institutes.

What are IIDE's plans for further strengthening the digital marketing ecosystem in Nepal?

We are aware that we alone cannot improve the digital marketing training ecosystem without the help of educational institutes here. We need to and would like to request schools, colleges, and universities here to provide our solutions through their doors as well.

We want to provide our services and solutions to every student who is interested in learning this skill set even if it's free of cost.

To make an impact, we need to come together with all educators here and ensure that people interested in digital marketing can receive their training to uplift the number of digitally skilled people.

Please share your view on the progress of digital marketing in Nepal. Also, how will IIDE work as a catalyst in facilitating the digital marketing ecosystem here?

The number of Nepalis having access to smartphones and affordable internet has increased significantly over the past five years. Although the demand for digitally skilled people has also increased as a result, there is a lack of such people who meet the requirements set by businesses here. Although many people and businesses know the importance of digital marketing, they have encountered trouble in sourcing trained experts.

Nepal is undergoing massive migration in recent years leading people to depend on remittance.

Although that is completely fine, that is not how a country develops to new heights.

In my opinion, having digital skills will allow Nepalis to raise their living standards while still living here.

The cost of labour is low in Nepal, which gives the country an edge over other countries for companies who want to outsource skilled manpower here.

Although the pay will be lower compared to the same position holder abroad, the income will still be considered good for the Nepali people without having to leave the country.

IIDE strives to become a prominent facilitator for the entire digital marketing ecosystem here and believes that digital skill sets learnt from here will certainly make a positive impact in people's lives as well as broaden the culture of people staying and working in Nepal over the next couple of years. We believe that all students should have easy access to learning about digital marketing as Nepal's economy is set to witness a digital transformation leading to an even higher demand for digitally skilled talents shortly.

A version of this article appears in the print on January 24, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.