Majors in technology SAP India and Microsoft launched TechSaksham, a joint skilling programme aimed at empowering young women students from underserved communities to pursue careers in technology, on Thursday. 62,000 female students will be trained in artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, web design, and digital marketing as a result of this collaborative initiative.
The programme will collaborate with the AICTE Training and Learning (ATAL) academy and state college education departments to support faculty professional development at participating institutes. The initiative will train 1,500 teachers in the first year of implementation, and each faculty trained will be able to support over 50 students in one year, affecting 60,000-75,000 students.
This programme, which will be implemented by the Edunet Foundation as a collaborative pan-India initiative, will develop future-ready skills in young women graduating in sciences, engineering, computer applications, and vocational studies.
The programme provides a core curriculum to understand the application of technology as well as activity-based engagements to put the skills into practise under the supervision of expert mentors, ensuring job readiness. Students will also have the opportunity to present their work to business leaders and experts from local industries, assisting in the establishment of early links with industry ecosystems.
“We have always been at the forefront in advancing digital inclusion and equity across India through our flagship programs like Code Unnati where we have enabled more than 1.8 million adolescents and children. Our partnership with Microsoft is an expansion of this vision where we focus on equipping the young women of our country with skills in emerging technologies like AI and cloud computing empowering them to be a part of the future ready workforce," said Kulmeet Bawa, president and managing director, SAP Indian Subcontinent.
According to Anant Maheshwari, president of Microsoft India, Microsoft is deeply committed to democratising access to technology.
“As we rapidly move towards a digital economy, the skills of the future will look very different from the skills that are needed today. Digital fluency will not just be a competitive advantage but a necessity to qualify for jobs. This requires a massive effort to skill India’s talent and workforce. Our partnership with SAP reflects our commitment towards strengthening the skilling ecosystem and closing the digital skills gap," he said.
During and after the first year of programme implementation, select teachers and institutes will be identified to establish a nodal centre in each target geography. These nodal centres will drive outreach to regional institutions and motivate students and teachers to participate in the programme in the coming years.
