The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and Meta have announced the launch of the ‘Creators of Metaverse’ programme – a pioneering initiative to prepare India’s youth for the future of immersive technology. Through the Meta Spark platform, this initiative will equip 100,000 college students and 20,000 faculty members with essential Augmented Reality (AR) knowledge and technical skills. The programme is free of charge.
The launch event occurred at the AICTE headquarters in New Delhi, marking a significant step towards building a skilled workforce in XR technologies. 1M1B will manage the programme. According to an official statement, the development rolled out through the AICTE Training and Learning Bureau (TLB) aims to play a crucial role in transforming India’s education landscape and fostering innovation among the youth.
The Creators of Metaverse programme has been designed for students to explore the world of AR and develop their creative potential. With a gamified pathway, it features a 10-day, 20-hour curriculum, including instructor-led sessions, group mentoring, and project-based assignments, as per the official notice. Students can work with industry-grade AR software tools and resources to build their portfolios and professional networks and provide a virtual workplace experience.
Speaking on the collaboration, Chairperson of AICTE, Dr TG Sitharam, said:
The “Creators of Metaverse” programme is aligned with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and is a significant step towards preparing the youth for the jobs of the future. The partnership with Meta is a substantial stride towards driving innovation and skilling India’s workforce for the Metaverse era.
In conjunction with the launch event, Meta reiterated its commitment to engage with over 10 million students and more than one million teachers across schools in India with a focus on digital citizenship and AR-VR education.
Natasha Jog, Head of Instagram Policy and Policy Programmes, India at Meta, added:
Through this program, we are excited to nurture the next generation of problem solvers, creators, and solopreneurs who will harness the power of AR to bring innovative solutions. We are committed to empowering youth to be job-ready by equipping them with the latest technological skills through a comprehensive program that covers their journey from college to the professional world.
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is a statutory and national-level council for technical education under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. The institution is responsible for planning, formulating, and maintaining norms and standards, quality assurance through accreditation, monitoring, and evaluation, maintaining parity of certification and awards, and ensuring coordinated and integrated development and management of technical education in the country. Overall, AICTE is working towards improving the quality of technical education in India by undertaking various initiatives.
