The Andhra Pradesh government has entered a significant agreement with Microsoft to boost the state’s youth’s skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other cutting-edge technologies.
On Thursday, representatives from Microsoft and the Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Corporation (APSDC) formalized the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Amaravati. The state’s Minister for IT, Electronics, and Education, Nara Lokesh, oversaw the signing at the State Secretariat.
Nara Lokesh, Minister for IT, Electronics and Education.
The primary goal of the agreement is to establish fundamental AI and advanced technology skills through vocational education programs. These programs will target secondary school students and young adults to cultivate a skilled workforce for IT-based and other industries within Andhra Pradesh, according to a statement released by the Chief Minister’s Office.
Minister Nara Lokesh highlighted that Microsoft plans to provide skill development training to over 200,000 youth within a year under the agreement. He emphasized that this training would provide the youth with opportunities to secure employment in the growing global AI and technology sectors.
Merkel plans to equip 500 teachers and 10,000 engineering students from 50 rural engineering colleges in the state with training in AI and cloud computing. Additionally, 30,000 students from 30 ITIs will receive AI training in digital productivity. Further, the initiative includes AI skills training for 40,000 young people to facilitate the ‘Passport to Earning 2.0’ program and another 20,000 in cooperation with the Union Labour and Employment Ministry.
Furthermore, the program features 100 hours of AI training for 50,000 individuals to enhance public services and build capacity among government officials. The APSDC will then implement a civil services capacity-building initiative. This will offer AI upskilling and reskilling to 20,000 staff members via self-directed learning platforms, workshops, and cross-departmental collaboration webinars.
The APSDC will also provide the necessary physical infrastructure for AI training in each area. Microsoft will work closely with relevant departments to deliver this training. Moreover, Microsoft will support educational institutions by providing the required training and certifications to integrate the AI curriculum.
Also present for the signing were Kona Sasidhar, Secretary (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, among other officials.
