Microsoft and Shell have recently collaborated to impart digital skills to students in vocational education institutes. The project aims to enable 5,000 youth across 24 government institutes with digital productivity and employability skills and prepare them for digital careers in the manufacturing and energy sectors.
According to an official statement, adding a digital curriculum to the training offered in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and polytechnics will enable the students in non-IT trades to enhance their skills for jobs. This move is in response to emerging technologies changing the nature of employment and redefining the scope of productivity in every sector.
With a goal to enable livelihood opportunities for students in ITI and polytechnic trades such as electrician, electrical engineering, fashion designing, and more, the first phase of the programme will focus on creating awareness about digital employment opportunities across Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
Speaking on the partnership, Director of Microsoft Philanthropies India, Gunjan Patel, said:
In today’s digital-driven economy, it is critical to equip the youth in vocational education, especially in non-IT trades, with digital skills to meet the demands of the rapidly transforming sectors. We are excited to join forces with Shell on this crucial initiative empowering skills for jobs and look forward to making a positive impact on the youth of India.
To support the initiative, the programme aims to enhance digital learning labs at these institutes and build the capacity of faculty members to sustain the outcomes of the programme. The statement further mentioned that the SRF Foundation will deploy the programme in each of the states and provide 240 hours of training, including modules on data analytics and sustainability at the workplace.
Shell is one of India’s most diversified international energy companies with over 10,000 employees and a presence across upstream, integrated gas, downstream, renewable energy, and deep capabilities in R&D, digitalization, and business operations. It aims to meet society’s energy needs in economically, socially and environmentally viable ways, now and in the future. With a focus on digitization and future-ready sustainable solutions, the company is nurturing a vibrant ecosystem in India to accelerate energy innovations with Shell E4 for start-ups, Shell Eco-marathon and investments in new energy companies like Husk Power, d.light, Orb Energy and Cleantech Solar.
Earlier this year, Microsoft announced its partnership with The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) to promote cybersecurity skills through their Cyber Shikshaa and Ready4Cybersecurity programmes. In 2021, the tech giant joined hands with the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) to launch DigiSaksham – a collaborative digital skills training initiative to empower job seekers in an increasingly tech-driven economy.
