Govt, IBM partner to offer cloud computing, networking courses

US-based information technology giant IBM and the directorate general of training under the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship (MSDE) have launched  SkillsBuild platform to advance emerging technology education in India. 

IBM claims the initiative will help create a job-ready workforce. 

The collaboration will offer a two-year advanced diploma in IT, networking and cloud computing, which is co-created and designed by IBM. The course will be available at the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs), IBM and MSDE said in a joint statement.

Several non-government organisations like the Unnati and Edunet Foundation. IBM Volunteers helped deploy the programme. These NGOs will also offer personalised coaching and experiential learning opportunities for students.

Under the deal, the platform will also train ITI and NSTI faculty on artificial intelligence (AI) skills for the future of work.

“The platform will help students develop the technical and professional skills needed for competitive new collar jobs. SkillsBuild platform will reinforce IBM’s commitment to enabling life-long learning in India and aligning with the skills India initiative by the Government of India,” said Chaitanya Sreenivas, vice president and head of the human resource, IBM India.

Students will also be trained in resume writing, problem solving and communication. 

“We aim to make constant endeavours to skill our students in this technological age by ensuring that the nation’s youth is skilled digitally to make them adapt to the new age technology and ensure industry readiness,” said K.P. Krishnan, secretary, ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship.

Last year, IBM had joined hands with the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship to launch a first-of-its-kind new collar curriculum. Nineteen students were offered a five-month paid internship at IBM after the completion of course in September 2019.

Public sector companies are shifting their focus to new-age technologies. ITI recently announced that it is setting up a 5G technology manufacturing hub. 

Recent market research reports have estimated that India will see close to a million jobs in cloud computing alone. DevOps, automation, software-defined networks are some of the key areas that are seeing a lack of trained professionals.