Sri City Launches AP’s First Work-and-Study University

From Our Correspondent

• The Project: A brand-new, ₹250-crore private university launched by the Andhra Pradesh government inside the 10,000-acre Sri City industrial zone.
• The Dual Model: India’s first large-scale program where students spend 65% of their time gaining real-world workplace experience.
• Earn While You Learn: Every student is guaranteed a monthly stipend ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹18,000 starting from the seventh month of their first year.
• Programs Offered: Admissions are open for the 2026-27 batch for B.Tech (Computer Science, Manufacturing Engineering) and BBA (Finance, Digital Marketing).
• The Career Edge: Graduates finish their studies with a formal degree plus 2+ years of verified corporate work experience.

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Sricity International University (SIU), officially launched on July 2, 2026 by Andhra Pradesh HRD and Education Minister Nara Lokesh, is India’s first large-scale work-study model, where students can earn while they learn.

This landmark ₹250-crore project is set to transform the technical and business education landscape in the region. Operating from a temporary campus within the bustling Sri City industrial zone, the university introduces a radical shift from standard rote-learning methods to an immersive, industry-embedded model.

Earn While You Learn: Sri City University Guarantees Stipends From Year One; Grads Exit With 2 Years of Work Experience

Is it a Private University?

Yes. Sricity International University is a legally recognized private university. To enable its setup under the “Greenfield category”, the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet cleared an ordinance amending the Andhra Pradesh Private Universities Act, 2016. 

Promoters and Location

The university is promoted and established by the Sri City Education Foundation, backed by a group of prominent corporate builders, tech leaders, and venture capitalists, including Chintalapati Srinivasa Raju (Srini Raju) and Ravindra Babu Sannareddy (Ravindra Sannareddy).

It benefits heavily from its strategic location inside the 10,000-acre Sri City integrated business ecosystem. This placement positions the institution right next door to more than 200 global companies from 30+ countries (including manufacturing giants like Tata and LG), effectively turning the entire industrial hub into an extended practical lab for the student body. 

Learn about admission procedures, fees 

What is the “Work-Study Dual Model”?

The defining feature of Sricity International University is India’s first large-scale Work-Study Dual Model. This setup fundamentally alters the typical “4 years of study, then look for a job” structure: 

• Early Workplace Entry: Mandatory paid internships are deeply integrated into the curriculum, starting as early as the 7th month of the first year.
• Intense Timeline: The university operates on a 48-week academic year (combining study blocks and factory floor/office shifts), compared to the 30-week year of traditional colleges. 
• Earn While You Learn: Every student is guaranteed a monthly stipend starting at ₹10,000 to ₹18,000 from Year 1. 
• The “Professional” Edge: By graduation, a student does not leave as a fresher; they exit with a formal degree and 2+ years of verified industry work experience. 
• AI-Infused Ecosystem: Artificial Intelligence is not just a subject here; AI tools are integrated from Day 1 as learning agents across all teaching, testing, and operations. 

Is it the First Such Institution in Andhra Pradesh?

Yes, it is the state’s first Greenfield private university to adopt a 35% study and 65% workplace-immersion split. While Andhra Pradesh houses several traditional public and private campuses, SIU stands alone as the first to tie its entire operational curriculum entirely to a functional multi-national industrial zone, ensuring courses are co-designed directly by corporate partners. 

Why This Matters 

This project marks a critical shift in how industrial hubs handle human resources. By anchoring an active university inside Sri City, the corporate ecosystem secures a continuous, tailor-trained talent pipeline, while students offset their educational costs via stipends. It signals a massive leap toward solving youth underemployment in Andhra Pradesh.