Deethya Reddy – NPTEL STAR
Born and raised in Bangalore, Deethya Reddy is an Associate Software Engineer with nearly two years of experience. During her college years (2019-2023) at Visvesvaraya Technological University, Bangalore, she discovered NPTEL. Her engagement with the platform wasn’t solely driven by curiosity, but also by her university’s Honours degree requirements.
Students could earn this prestigious recognition by completing a certain number of NPTEL courses. While most others stopped after fulfilling their degree requirements, Deethya kept going. “At first, it was about getting credits, but once I started the courses, I was completely drawn in,” she recalls. Along with her two close friends, they tackled the challenge as a team. Each week, they would divide and rotate responsibilities, then gather before exams to compile notes and revise together.
By the time she graduated, Deethya realised that she was only three courses away from becoming a Domain STAR in Data Science. Later, even while working full-time, she managed to complete the courses and earn the certification.
To date, Deethya’s NPTEL portfolio includes 13 courses, mostly in computer science, data science, and mathematics, along with a few in entrepreneurship and soft skills. One of her favourites, she says, is Artificial Intelligence Search Methods for Problems Solving by Prof Deepak Khemani from IIT Madras. She recalls it as a notoriously tough course with rigorous written exams. “I was just hoping to pass, but ended up being among the top nine performers,” she smiles. “It really improved my problem-solving skills and helped me ace an AI course later in college as well,” she shared.
The NPTEL journey hasn’t just been about academic growth. She believes it to have directly impacted her career as well. “I had already completed some eight to nine certifications before placements and I listed them in my resume. I definitely believe it helped me land my internship at the same company where I’m working today.”, she says.
Post her domain certification in Data Science, she mustered the courage to confidently approach her company and ask for a data science project. Today, she’s working on an exciting one!
What helped her the most? “The sessions by the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) scholars were game-changing. They helped me get through the tougher courses”, she shares. “Managing my time and courses during college, especially during semester exams, was challenging, but I somehow made it through”, she smiles.
In 2023, Deethya was recognised as an NPTEL STAR. “It was such a good feeling to get appreciated; and getting invited to the STAR meet at IIT Madras was a cherry on top”, she beams. “I got to meet a lot of other learners, professors, and even a Scientist from ISRO!”
So, has her journey come to an end now that she has started working? Not quite.
She eyes another domain certification in cloud computing, aligning it with her work in Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Azure-based systems. To her fellow learners, her advice is simple –
“I know many students start NPTEL courses just to earn credits, but something changes along the way. The content just draws you in and suddenly, it’s not just about completing an assignment; it’s more about the joy of learning.
I’ve also seen many of my peers drop out midway due to college pressure or time constraints,” she shares. “That’s understandable, but my advice is simple: just push through. Even if you miss a deadline or fall behind, don’t quit. Keep going. You never know how or when that knowledge will come back to help you. It always does”, she says.
Deethya’s story proves that when you persevere, every lecture, assignment, and challenge – even those initially pursued for credits – can lead to a transformative career breakthrough.
– Written by Asha Thangaraj