Google collaborates with Assam govt to promote digital learning

Google has collaborated with the government of Assam to modernise education by promoting digital learning in the state. Under this new initiative, Google will collaborate with the Assam government’s skill, employment and entrepreneurship department (SEED) to reinforce their school digitisation efforts by adding new digital learning tools and solutions to help teaching and learning.

Further, Google will help empower schools with digital education through Google for Education’s collaborative tools. It will collaborate with the Assam Skill Development Mission (ASDM) to provide scholarships and wrap-around training to make youth job-ready for the digital market, according to a statement from the company.

"The programme will also support qualified applicants to pursue Google Career Certificates in high-demand fields like IT Support, IT automation, project management, data analytics, UX design digital marketing and e-commerce. These learners will also be able to connect with employers who have an ongoing demand for these skills," it said.

Sanjay Gupta, Country Head & Vice President, Google India, said that the signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) is aimed at modernising education for the next generation. “We look forward to working together as we accelerate digital adoption and unlock the value of the internet for children and youth, setting them on a path of growth and equipping them with essential training and skill-sets to succeed in the fast-growing digital economy of India," he said.

Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister of Assam, said that digital-led technology and governance are cornerstones in our vision for transforming Assam and making its economy among the country’s leading growth drivers.

“The collaboration with Google will bring the best of digital tools and technology to classrooms across the State and create new skilling opportunities. These programmes will go a long way in empowering children and our youth in developing critical skills and for wider job and career opportunities,” Sarma added.

Google has previously collaborated with the State Government to increase internet penetration across Assam and support the government’s efforts on women empowerment, internet safety, skill development and universal education.

In 2018, Dibrugarh train station became the 400th railway station in India to become WiFi-enabled under Google’s joint initiative with Indian Railways and RailTel. Most recently, Assamese was added to the list of languages available in Google Translate.