ShiftED 2024: Transforming Access to Global Education

Hyderabad: The second edition of GradRight’s flagship event, ShiftED 2024, united over 4,000 students, eight financial institutions, 24 prominent international universities, and industry leaders to address a pressing issue in global education—transparency, trust, and accountability in higher education abroad.

The event hosted representatives from esteemed universities, including Washington University in St. Louis, Lehigh University, Rutgers University, Brandeis University, City University of New York (CUNY), and the University of San Diego. Leading financial partners such as HDFC Credila, ICICI Bank, Prodigy Finance, and IDFC First Bank also participated.

Highlighting the event’s significance, Prof. Chell Roberts, Dean of the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering at the University of San Diego, remarked, “The future is India. With its population growth and emphasis on education, India is emerging as a global hub. GradRight has been an excellent partner in representing us and sharing our story effectively. I am thrilled to have participated in ShiftED, which provided an opportunity to engage with students, parents, and academics.”

Co-founder of GradRight, Sasidhar Sista, emphasized the event’s mission, saying, “After last year’s focus on access, this year we are addressing trust deficits through meaningful conversations with stakeholders, including students.”

Prominent speakers included Prof. Kathryn Graddy, Dean of the International Business School at Brandeis University; Prof. Michael Mazzeo, Dean of Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis; Prof. Cecilia Orphan from the University of Denver; and Prof. Emeritus Philip Altbach, Founding Director of the Center for International Higher Education at Boston College.

Empowering Students and Families

ShiftED 2024 facilitated thousands of interactions between students, universities, and lenders. Masterclasses and breakout sessions provided guidance on critical topics such as navigating visa restrictions, adapting to new cultures, and leveraging work-study and research opportunities. Financial workshops helped students and families understand loan structures, interest rates, and repayment plans, ensuring a smoother path to funding higher education abroad.

GradRight’s UK Expansion

As part of its global expansion, GradRight announced its entry into the UK higher education space, forging partnerships with five leading universities: the University of Sunderland, Manchester Metropolitan University, Middlesex University, Royal College of Art, and Heriot-Watt University. Gareth Wynn Owen, British Deputy High Commissioner for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, highlighted the potential of British education during the event.

This strategic move further strengthens GradRight’s mission to build a global education ecosystem. Over the past four years, GradRight has empowered more than 200,000 Indian students by facilitating AI-driven matches with suitable universities and lenders. The platform has processed over $3 billion in loan requests, making world-class education more accessible for financially constrained students.

ShiftED 2024 marks another milestone in fostering transparency, trust, and collaboration across the global higher education landscape.