The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has announced its partnership with multiple industries to offer employability-focused programmes on ‘SWAYAM Plus’, a landmark initiative of the Union Ministry of Education. Around 24 MoUs were signed with leading industry partners across multiple sectors to offer skill and employability-focused online programmes and internships accessible to learners nationwide. This brings SWAYAM Plus’ total industry partners to 36.
The MoUs were signed on campus recently in the presence of Professor V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, Professor R Sarathi, Dean (Planning), IIT Madras, and Professor In-Charge, SWAYAM Plus, IIT Madras and the leadership teams of the industry partners. It covers diverse fields, including Information Technology, Social Sciences, Banking and Finance, Soft Skills, Music, Management, Food Science, and Indian Knowledge Systems and internships, ensuring comprehensive coverage of skill development across areas crucial for future employability.
Supporting the industry’s participation in this skill-building initiative, IIT Madras Director Professor V Kamakoti stated,
These partnerships mark a significant step towards our mission of democratising access to education and empowering learners in India in the years to come. SWAYAM Plus will play a key role in increasing the adoption of industry content among universities. SWAYAM Plus will also be integrated with Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) for a smooth credit transfer and accumulation experience for all learners.
The platform will offer programmes in sectors such as Manufacturing, Energy, Computer Science and Engineering/IT/ITES, Management Studies, Teacher Education, Healthcare, Hospitality and Tourism, Social Science, Indian Knowledge Systems, Media, and Communications, among others. SWAYAM Plus’s industry partnerships demonstrate its dedication to improving educational outcomes and preparing students for today’s competitive job market.
Emphasising IIT Madras’ dedication to providing high-quality educational opportunities that meet the industry’s present and future demands, Professor R Sarathi, Dean (Planning), IIT Madras, said:
We are thrilled to forge these strategic alliances with these esteemed industry leaders, and this is just the beginning. SWAYAM Plus aims to reach learners nationwide with diverse and high-quality multilingual content, internships, and even future job opportunities that are available to all at an affordable cost.
SWAYAM Plus, a groundbreaking initiative between the Ministry of Education and IIT Madras, was launched by Dharmendra Pradhan, Education Minister, Government of India, on February 27th, 2024. Since its launch, more than 75,000 learners have benefited from more than 165 courses, of which 33 were aligned to the National Credit Framework across multiple sectors, such as IT, Healthcare, BFSI, and Indian Knowledge Systems. The portal remains committed to expanding its reach and impact through innovative educational solutions to add 500 courses, 50,000 internships, 100 partners and a million learners in its first year.
