MSDE and Microsoft Collaborate to Equip Women with Future-Ready AI Skills

Synopsis

The MSDE and Microsoft have unveiled a unique initiative called 'AI Careers for Women' to empower female students in higher education with essential AI skills, bridging the gender gap in technology and fostering equitable economic growth.

Key Takeaways

Innovative AI training for women in higher education.
Partnership aims to reduce gender disparity in tech.
Integration with National Education Policy (NEP).
Focus on industry-relevant skills for future careers.
Program designed to empower 20,000 female learners.

New Delhi, April 22 (NationPress) The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has partnered with the tech behemoth Microsoft to introduce 'AI Careers for Women' — an innovative skilling initiative designed to empower women in higher education institutions to explore careers in artificial intelligence (AI).

This collaboration aims to close the gender gap in cutting-edge technology by providing women with industry-relevant AI skills, allowing them to engage meaningfully in the digital economy and contribute significantly to India's innovation-driven growth.

“Our alliance with Microsoft emphasizes the Ministry’s dedication to enhancing opportunities for women in burgeoning tech sectors like AI. By integrating this program into credit-linked university curricula and aligning it with the National Education Policy (NEP), we are redefining 21st-century education — making it more flexible, interdisciplinary, and closely aligned with industry demands,” stated Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Equipping young women with in-demand digital skills is essential for transforming individual careers and accelerating the nation’s transition toward a more equitable, innovation-driven economy, Chaudhary added.

As part of this initiative, Microsoft will deliver a 240-hour training curriculum under the AI skilling and Innovation framework specifically for women, developed in accordance with industry standards and in consultation with the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET).

The training will be conducted using a hub and spoke model in collaboration with state government departments for higher education, across a network of 30 Centres of Excellence as hubs and 150 educational institutions as spokes in Tier-II and Tier-III towns across six states.

“We believe that providing equitable access to AI skills is vital for inclusive economic development. Through this partnership, we’re enhancing capacity building across institutions in Tier-II and Tier-III towns, ultimately empowering more women to succeed in an AI-driven economy and shape the workforce of the future,” said Aparna Gupta, Global Delivery Center Leader Microsoft India.

The program supplements classroom education in higher education by establishing 30 centres of excellence at women’s institutions that function as hub centres, further supporting 150 spoke centres in Tier-II and Tier-III towns. This initiative provides extensive AI training with practical exposure to AI tools and real-world applications, assisting 20,000 learners in acquiring industry-relevant skills and project-based experience.

The initiative aims to boost women’s participation in the digital economy and aligns with the government’s mission of fostering equitable access to future-ready skills.