In this initiative, not only Microsoft but also the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Future Skills Prime-a NASSCOM and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) digital skilling initiative, Ernst & Young (EY), GitHub and Quess Corp are also collaborating with Microsoft to provide a greater skilling platform and opportunities to students in their early phase of corporate life.

“India’s youth is among the country’s biggest competitive advantages. Empowering this talent with the right skills to be self-reliant will be foundational to our long-term growth. The Future Ready Talent Program provides a holistic skilling experience that connects learners more readily with new job opportunities. We are proud to collaborate with a strong set of partners for this program, who are deeply committed to building a vibrant skilling ecosystem in the country.” said Anant Maheshwari, president, Microsoft India.

Role of different organizations:

• In this initiative Microsoft will offer learning modules and certifications through its learning platform, Microsoft Learn, to teach students in areas like cloud computing, data, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

• It is ensured by AICTE that the curriculum is aligned to the National Education Policy, 2020.

• SSC NASSCOM will provide solutions of significant courses to the National Occupational Standards, connecting these courses on FutureSkills Prime.

• Ernst & Young (EY) will provide technology and industry mentorship to students during their internship period.

• GitHub provides free access to the best developer tools via the GitHub Student Developer Pack and provides the opportunity to collaborate on projects with other developers on GitHub.

• Quess Corp will deal with the student experience and host a virtual career fair for participants, presenting them with career opportunities across the Microsoft customer and partner ecosystem.

Dr. Anil Sahasrabudhe, chairman, AICTE, said: “The National Education Policy 2020 has a clear focus on encouraging experiential learning and critical thinking among students. The Future Ready Talent program builds on this approach with Microsoft’s industry-leading technology and skilling resources. The program, with its unique model, allows students not just to acquire skills that are in demand, but also test the skills by solving critical projects and get an opportunity to learn from industry experts. Access to digital skills will be at the core of making India a skilled economy and we are committed to playing a strong role in that journey.”

Qualified understudies can apply for the entry-level position program by visiting the official website and enrolling for open batches. The enrollment for the first batch will start on 15 September 2021.