Hyderabad, India; December 6, 2024: The second edition of GradRight’s flagship event, ShiftED 2024, brought together over 4,000 students, 8 financial partners, 24 leading foreign universities, and industry leaders to address a critical issue affecting students worldwide—transparency, trust, and accountability in the global higher education ecosystem.
Deans and Directors of Admissions from various universities such as Washington University in St. Louis, Lehigh University, Rutgers University, Brandeis University, City University of New York (CUNY), and the University of San Diego, along with lending partners including HDFC Credila, ICICI Bank, Prodigy Finance, and IDFC First Bank, were all present at the event.
ShiftED special guest Prof. Chell Roberts, Dean of the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering at the University of San Diego said, “The future is India. If you look at population growth and the care for education, the central hub of the world is India. We’re approaching a period of political change and I think it is looking very good for this country. We were very fortunate to find a partner in India, GradRight, that understands how we want to be represented, and how we want to communicate and tell our story. I am excited to have been part of ShiftED, where I was able to talk with other academics, students, and parents, and to share USD’s approach.”
Commenting on ShiftED, Sasidhar Sista, Co-Founders at GradRight, said, "After ShiftED’s debut last year with a focus on access, we have stepped up this year to champion the need for addressing existing trust gaps through insightful, mission-driven conversations with all stakeholders that matter, including students. "
Other higher education leaders present at the event included: Professor Kathryn Graddy, Dean of the International Business School, Brandeis University; Professor Michael Mazzeo, Dean of Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis; higher education expert Professor Cecilia Orphan from the University of Denver; and major thought leader in the higher education space Prof. Emeritus Philip Altbach from Boston College, who is also the Founding Director of the Center for International Higher Education.
The event saw thousands of interactions between attending universities, universities and students, and students and lenders. Universities additionally provided students with master classes and breakout room sessions that focused on overcoming obstacles like visa restrictions, adapting to a foreign environment, and work-study as well as research opportunities. Students and parents also received guidance on loan structures, interest rates, repayment options, and other financial planning tools to help students understand the nuances of funding their education abroad in an easier and more sustainable manner.
GradRight has already impacted over 200,000 Indian students through unbiased, AI-driven matches with the right universities and lenders. Its selection and financing platforms have processed over $3 billion in loan requests in just four years, carrying out its mission to enable access to world-class education for Indian students, especially those with financial restraints.
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