Andhra Pradesh and Microsoft to Boost AI Skills for Youth
Amaravati, March 13, 2025: The Andhra Pradesh government is joining forces with Microsoft to provide extensive training in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and related technologies to the state’s youth. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Thursday outlining the partnership, which aims to skill over 200,000 young people in the coming year.
The initiative seeks to equip students and young adults with the skills needed for the growing IT sector. The training will focus on AI and cloud computing, aligning with the evolving demands of the industry. The primary goal is to develop fundamental AI skills within vocational education programs, targeting secondary school students and youth to produce a workforce for IT-based and other industries across the State.
Representatives from Microsoft and the Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Corporation entered into the MoU to this effect in the presence of the Minister for IT, Electronics and Education, Nara Lokesh, at the State Secretariat.
Under the agreement, Microsoft will also provide the following:
- Training for 500 teachers and 10,000 engineering students from 50 rural engineering colleges in AI and cloud computing.
- AI training to 30,000 students from 30 ITIs in digital productivity.
- AI skills training for 40,000 young people to support the introduction of the “passport to earning 2.0” initiative.
- Training for 20,000 individuals in collaboration with the Union Labour and Employment Ministry.
- 100 hours of AI training for 50,000 people to improve public services and build capacity among government officials. The AP Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) will then implement the civil services capacity building program.
- Upskilling and reskilling in AI for 20,000 staff members through self-learning paths, workshops, and webinars.
The Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Corporation will supply the necessary physical infrastructure for AI training in the relevant areas. Furthermore, Microsoft plans to cooperate closely with the numerous departments to provide AI training. Education institutions will receive essential training and certification from Microsoft to help them introduce an AI curriculum, according to Nara Lokesh.
Attendees at the MoU signing included Kona Sasidhar, Secretary of Education; Ganesh Kumar, Managing Director of the Skill Development Corporation; Dinesh Kumar, Executive Director; Dinesh Kanakamedala, South Head of Microsoft for Government Business; and Sandeep Bandwedar, Microsoft India South-Asia Director.
