Why did Zoho start a school for ‘contextual knowledge’? And whom is it for?

Sridhar Vembu, the founder and CEO of Zoho Corporation, is known for his unconventional approach to business. He doesn’t seek to be different for the sake of being different; rather, he is willing to experiment. One of the most significant experiments he and his company conducted was in the area of human resources.

Typically, when you establish a software company, you need programmers. Naturally, many companies turn to India for their programming talent. While Zoho (formerly AdventNet) had clients worldwide and Sridhar was based in Silicon Valley, their development center was in Chennai, which was expected.

However, Sridhar believed in hiring individuals with potential and a strong will to succeed, a practice no other software company had adopted. In 2004, early in their journey, Zoho launched Zoho University (now called Zoho Schools) to train young talents straight out of Class 12. This initiative was revolutionary because it focused on students without a formal degree.

Sridhar explains his philosophy:

“Formal education only takes you so far, but most of the contextual knowledge comes from actually doing something. The Internet is a force multiplier. Now, if one wants to learn something from scratch, it takes perseverance, but the tools and the lessons are available almost for free. It’s very powerful. It is changing the way education works, companies and organizations work. That’s why Zoho University is about this contextual knowledge. We impart that kind of thinking to the trainees so that they can themselves go on to acquire what they need.”

concept of Zoho Schools:

Zoho Schools was designed to attract young individuals with a strong desire to achieve something significant in life. Rather than obtaining a degree, these students gain hands-on learning and mentorship, working alongside experienced software professionals and learning directly from them.

Finally, how much do they charge these young people?

Remarkably, Zoho Schools does not charge these students for the training. Instead, they provide a stipend of Rs 10,000 per month throughout the program. After completing the program, most students are absorbed into Zoho, combining formal classes with an internship to learn the necessary skills directly from industry professionals.

Official Link: https://www.zohoschools.com

Article writer: Pranesh