iOS Student Developer Program
Chitkara University and Galgotias University
India

As the technology workforce evolves and expectations are higher than ever, demand for skilled graduates continues to grow. “The technology half-life used to be 10 years. Now it’s closer to five,” says Krishna Prakash, Senior Vice President at Infosys. “That means people need to be trained much faster than before. We look for problem-solving, collaboration, analytical thinking, creativity, and adaptability. These are the skills that define how someone works on a team.”

The question is no longer whether education must change, but how quickly. Companies want employees who can adapt to new needs, collaborate, and contribute sooner in real-world environments. This is prompting universities to rethink how students prepare for work. “Forty percent of what we are teaching today will be irrelevant by the time students graduate,” says Dr. Dhruv Galgotia, CEO of Galgotias University. “We really need to rewire and innovate what we’re doing in classrooms.”

The iOS Student Developer Program — a collaboration of Apple, Infosys, and select universities — was created in response to this shift. Students from a range of backgrounds learn and execute the full product development journey and integrate their design, technology, and decision-making skills.

iOS Development Centres are equipped with the latest in Apple technology, including Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Students use Apple’s tools and learning materials, like Xcode and Develop in Swift Tutorials, along with design development resources to experiment and iterate across devices.

In particular, Xcode provides tools to build, test, and distribute apps across Apple platforms. As they develop their skills, students from around the world are invited to build an app on a topic of their choice and participate in the Swift Student Challenge. And because the resources are available online, students can build from campus labs, personal devices, or on their own time — making learning more accessible.

In addition, faculty and mentors create a space for collaboration and experimentation. Infosys grounds the program in real workplace experience, through mentorships and internships. “Students need to understand how teams function, how decisions are made, and how products evolve beyond the classroom,” Prakash says.

By lowering the barrier to learn, students are more engaged, more vocal, and more invested. They experiment, learn from mistakes, and persevere through iteration. “I learn with them because they bring in new concepts and new ideas and it expands my knowledge base,” says Dr. Shruti Sachdeva, Assistant Professor at Galgotias University. “I find it a huge shift from what we used to do. That’s the future of education we’re moving towards. That’s exactly what learning is supposed to be.”

Many students complete the program with more than an app and a line on their resume. They leave with the confidence to launch a career, earned through execution and real-life industry experience. “India needs programmers, problem solvers, leaders who think globally and act locally,” says Dr. Cavita Taragi, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Chitkara University. “As far as technology and innovation is concerned, we have seen the tools the students have access to. They are absolutely invaluable.”