Andhra Pradesh signs deal with Microsoft for skill development in artificial intelligence

Education Secretary Kona Sasidhar, Managing Director of the Skill Development Corporation Ganesh Kumar, Executive Director Dinesh Kumar, South Head of Microsoft for Government Business Dinesh Kanakamedala and Microsoft India South-Asia Director Sandeep Bandwedar were present on the occasion.

Lokesh said that as per the agreement, Microsoft will impart skill development training to over two lakh youths in just one year. This Microsoft training will help the youth seize opportunities emerging globally in AI and advanced technology and secure jobs, he said.

Microsoft will impart training in AI and cloud computing to 500 teachers and 10,000 engineering students from 50 rural engineering colleges in the state. Additionally, 30,000 students from 30 Industrial Training Institutes will receive AI training in digital productivity. Training will also be provided in AI skills for 40,000 youths to enable the introduction of Passport to Earning 2.0, a digital platform that will provide more routes to skilling and opportunities for young people. Another 20,000 youths will receive training with the cooperation of the Union Labour and Employment Ministry.

As part of the programme, 100 hours of AI training will be given to 50,000 individuals to improve public services and for capacity building among state government officials. Following this, the AP Skill Development Corporation will implement the civil services capacity building programme. AI upskilling and reskilling will be provided to 20,000 staff members through self-learning paths, workshops and webinars on cross-departmental collaboration.

The AP Skill Development Corporation will provide the necessary physical infrastructure for AI training in the respective areas. Microsoft will also closely coordinate with the respective departments for imparting AI training. It will provide necessary training and certification to introduce AI curriculum in educational institutions.