NASSCOM, MeitY partner to provide free access to AI course to help employees upskill

The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) has partnered with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to provide free access to on-demand courses in emerging technologies. 

The foundation artificial intelligence (AI) course, which is available on the NASSCOM FutureSkills platform, is designed by SkillUp Online and aligned to the industry’s recommended curriculum, according to a joint statement. 

The aim of the course, which is available for free until May 15, is to help employees working from home upskill during the Covid-19 lockdown, the statement said. It will allow individuals to familiarise themselves with AI-powered technologies and practice AI tools to get a deeper understanding of the technology, it added.

The information technology (IT) lobby launched the skilling service platform in 2018 to train employees of its member companies. It provides training in emerging technologies such as robotic process automation, internet of things (IoT), virtual reality, cloud computing, big data analytics and 3D printing.

Additionally, the platform will also provide free access to the foundational big data analytics course from Digital Vidya soon, it said. The process to set up similar IoT and cybersecurity programmes, along with live webinars, is also in the works, the statement added.

“This campaign will urge IT professionals, students and everybody else interested in technology to enhance their understanding of emerging technologies. We are starting with artificial intelligence, as this is one skill that every professional will need,” Ajay Prakash Sawhney, secretary of MeitY, said.

Read: ABB, NASSCOM collaborate to help companies hire IoT professionals

Earlier this week, the industry body made two new appointments: it elevated Infosys COO Pravin Rao to the post of chairman for 2020-21 and appointed Accenture chairman and senior managing director Rekha M Menon as vice chairperson for the same period.