Microsoft to train students, teachers in AI, cloud computing and cybersecurity

Microsoft will train 6,000 students and 200 faculty members at government-led Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and National Skills Training Institutions (NSTIs). The company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Directorate General of Training (DGT) that comes under the Ministry of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) to offer the training.

Under the offering, students and teachers will be trained in artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, web development and cybersecurity skills. This training is aimed to equip candidates with industry-relevant skills, enhance employability, and connect them with relevant opportunities.

"I firmly believe that collaborations like that of DGT and Microsoft, will play a pivotal role in nurturing talent and Young Indians will get better access to skills that are more relevant in this fast-changing digital age. Our ambition as a nation is to become a trillion-dollar digital economy by 2026 and therefore investments and policies are being put in place to drive our growth in that direction,"said Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State (MoS) for IT.

“They will be guided by industry experts who will engage the candidates in deep-dive sessions and multifaceted capstone projects,” Microsoft said in a statement. 

For the faculty members, Microsoft will conduct Train-the-Trainer workshops on these technologies. Post the training faculty members will train ITI students attending computer operator and programming assistant (COPA) training, it further read.

Further, the CyberShikshaa program will be expanded to students and educators in ten NSTIs for women. The Cybershikshaa project from Microsoft was introduced first in 2018 in collaboration with industry body Nasscom and the central government to train women in cybersecurity.

“Empowering India’s youth with digital skills is crucial to building economic resilience and ensuring a brighter future for all. We are pleased to collaborate with DGT to train the country’s youth with the skills to succeed in today's digital economy. Together, we can build an inclusive future for the young leaders of tomorrow and unlock the full potential of the country’s workforce through this sustainable flywheel of skilling and employment,” said Jean-Philippe Courtois, executive vice president and president, National Transformation Partnerships, Microsoft.