Empowering Women in AI: MSDE and Microsoft Launch Groundbreaking Initiative
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Microsoft have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch AI Careers for Women, a pioneering skilling initiative aimed at empowering women in higher education institutions to pursue careers in Artificial Intelligence (AI). This strategic collaboration seeks to bridge the gender gap in emerging tech by equipping women with industry-aligned AI skills, enabling them to participate meaningfully in the digital economy and become active contributors to India’s innovation-led growth.
Comprehensive Training Program
As part of this collaboration, Microsoft will provide a 240-hour training curriculum under the AI skilling and Innovation framework for women, aligned with industry standards and developed in consultation with the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET). The training will be delivered through a hub and spoke model in partnership with state government departments for higher education, across a network of 30 Centre of Excellence – Hubs and 150 educational institutions – spokes in Tier-II and Tier-III towns across six states.
Transforming Education and Career Opportunities
Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Minister of State, Ministry of Education, emphasized that this initiative exemplifies how government and industry can come together to shape an inclusive and future-ready workforce. “By embedding this program within credit-linked university curricula and aligning it with the National Education Policy (NEP), we’re reimagining 21st-century learning – making it flexible, interdisciplinary, and deeply rooted in industry needs,” Chaudhary said. The program aims to empower young women with in-demand digital skills, transforming individual careers and accelerating the nation’s journey toward a more equitable and innovation-driven economy.
Implementation and Impact
Edunet Foundation, as one of the program partners, will implement this initiative, working closely with participating academic institutions, government bodies, corporate organizations, and industry bodies. The program will establish 30 centers of excellence at women’s institutions that will act as hub centers and further support 150 spoke centers in Tier-II and Tier-III towns. These centers will offer in-depth AI training with hands-on exposure to AI tools and real-world applications, helping 20,000 learners gain industry-relevant skills and project-based experience.
Benefits and Opportunities
Learners will benefit from structured training from experts, AI certifications, internships, apprenticeships, fellowships, career guidance, and job opportunities in AI-enabled roles. The program will create opportunities for women in rural India to innovate in AI and enhance their economic opportunities, equipping them to be AI developers, build AI applications and datasets, and thereby build a talent pipeline for rural AI innovation and enterprise.
Collaborative Efforts
Aparna Gupta, Global Delivery Center Leader Microsoft India, highlighted Microsoft’s commitment to inclusive skilling, stating, “We’re strengthening capacity building across institutions in Tier-II and Tier-III towns, ultimately enabling more women to thrive in an AI-powered economy and shape the workforce of tomorrow.” This initiative reflects Microsoft’s long-term commitment to enhancing women’s workforce participation in the digital economy and aligns with the government’s mission of creating equitable access to future-ready skills.
The AI Careers for Women initiative is designed to expand digital career pathways for women and contribute to a more inclusive technology workforce, marking a significant step toward bridging the gender gap in emerging technologies.
