International Business Machines (IBM), a global leader in technology and innovation, took a significant step towards equipping India’s youth with essential skills for the modern workforce by signing eight Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with various agencies of the Ministry of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The signing ceremony, presided over by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, marks a pivotal moment in India’s journey towards a skilled and empowered workforce.
Under these MoUs, IBM and its partners in the Indian government will collaborate to develop courses designed to empower the country’s youth with future-ready skills. These courses will span across school education, higher education, and vocational skills, with a strong focus on emerging technologies such as AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and professional development skills.
Speaking at the event, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan emphasized the importance of nurturing India’s young and dynamic population. He stated, “India, with its vast and youthful population, stands at the cusp of tremendous potential. To harness this demographic dividend, it is crucial to equip the youth with the necessary skills to excel in today’s modern workforce. This collaboration marks a significant stride toward our vision of a Skilled India and in scaling up digital skills training and skill building in emerging technologies using the IBM SkillsBuild platform.”
Pradhan further added, “These partnerships forged today will go a long way in making our learners harness the true potential of technology, making them future wealth creators and entrepreneurs of society.”
IBM’s collaboration with the Indian government will operate on three key levels of education:
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School Education: IBM will provide access to cutting-edge digital content from the IBM SkillsBuild platform for high school students, teachers, and trainers in schools identified by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS). The program will be offered through online courses, webinars, and in-person workshops conducted by IBM’s CSR implementation partners. IBM will also enhance the CBSE’s AI curriculum for Grades 11 and 12 and develop cybersecurity and blockchain curriculum for high school students, all of which will be hosted on IBM SkillsBuild.
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Higher Education: Through its CSR implementation partners, IBM will collaborate closely with the Department of Higher Education, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT), National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training & Research (NITTTR), Chandigarh, and state skilling missions. Together, they will onboard affiliated students and faculty to IBM SkillsBuild, providing them with access to digital content, experiential learning, and fresh skills to prepare them for technical careers.
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Vocational Skills: IBM will continue its central partnership with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and work closely with the Directorate General of Training (DGT) and respective state vocational education and skilling departments. Their goal is to onboard job seekers, including long-term unemployed individuals and school dropouts, to IBM SkillsBuild. These individuals will gain the technical and professional skills required to re-enter the workforce and contribute to India’s economic growth.
The partnership between IBM and the Indian government represents a critical initiative to empower India’s youth and prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st-century job market. By focusing on emerging technologies and collaborating across various levels of education, this collaboration aims to foster a more skilled and capable workforce, ultimately driving India’s economic and technological advancement.
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