Unacademy, a prominent edtech unicorn backed by SoftBank, has taken a significant step to expand its offline footprint by appointing Anurag Tiwari, a seasoned education leader from Aakash Educational Services. The move comes amidst a strategic shift towards strengthening offline education due to evolving market dynamics.
Anurag Tiwari, with a remarkable 18 years of experience in the education sector, has previously served as the National Academic Director at Aakash Educational Services, a renowned educational institution acquired by Byju's. His expertise in pedagogies, curriculum development, and educator management aligns well with Unacademy's commitment to providing quality education.
Unacademy's decision to bring Anurag Tiwari on board demonstrates its dedication to enhancing the educational landscape through its physical classes division. This strategic move is in line with the company's goal to provide holistic learning experiences for students aspiring to crack competitive exams like IIT JEE, NEET UG, and Foundation courses.
Gaurav Munjal, co-founder and CEO of Unacademy, highlights Anurag Tiwari's role in overseeing pedagogy, academic operations, strategies, and outcomes for Unacademy's offline centers. This indicates Unacademy's determination to deliver high-quality education and make a significant impact on the education sector.
In response to changing market trends, Unacademy is intensifying its offline initiatives, anticipating nearly an eight-fold growth in its offline endeavors in 2023. This shift aims to compensate for a projected 15 percent decline in its core online business while also contributing significantly to consolidated revenues.
Unacademy's financial performance in FY22 reveals substantial growth, with operating revenue reaching Rs 719 crore, marking an 80 percent increase from the previous year.
However, the company also faced losses of approximately Rs 2,900 crore during the same period. To streamline operations, Unacademy embarked on a cost-cutting strategy that included laying off around 2,000 employees, resulting in reduced monthly expenditures.
Having raised a significant amount of funding, totaling $877 million, and boasting a valuation of $3.4 billion, Unacademy is strategically positioning itself to leverage offline education's potential.
The company's aggressive expansion, underpinned by the appointment of Anurag Tiwari, underscores its commitment to providing diverse and effective learning avenues for students across India.
Unacademy's strategic move to appoint Anurag Tiwari as the National Academic Director for its offline classes division reflects its commitment to delivering comprehensive educational experiences.
As the edtech landscape evolves, Unacademy's emphasis on both online and offline learning stands poised to transform the education sector and empower students with high-quality educational resources.