Skilling programme TechSaksham is one representation of the strong partnership of SAP and Microsoft in India. Together, the two software enterprises will be working together with Edunet Foundation, AICTE Training and Learning Academy-ATAL and state collegiate education departments to accelerate the digital skills of young women in the country, especially those from underserved communities.
In November 2020, software giants SAP and Microsoft were among the first technology companies that signed up with the Directorate General of Training (DGT) to lead tech-training programmes for the youth across India. In pursuit of building Atmanirbhar Bharat or self-reliant India, tech giants and multinational companies have committed to collaborate to deliver 21st-century digital skillset training programmes in connection to the Industry 4.0 revolution.
Today, long-standing partners SAP and Microsoft have once again joined hands to support India’s efforts in narrowing the digital skills gap and advancing digital inclusion. The two companies launched ‘TechSaksham’, a joint skilling programme centred on equipping underserved women students with technology and employability skills to support them in building tech careers.
Deepening Alliance of SAP and Microsoft in India Centred on Digital Inclusion
SAP and Microsoft’s pan-India joint initiative intends to skill 62,000 women students in technology areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, web design, and digital marketing. To be implemented by Edunet Foundation, an Indian non-profit with a pan-India presence, the programme will develop future-ready skills of young women pursuing higher education in sciences, computer applications, vocational areas, and engineering.
SAP Indian Subcontinent President and Managing Director Kulmeet Bawa reinforced that SAP’s commitment on advancing digital inclusion and equity across India is exemplified in SAP Labs India’s flagship programme Code Unnati that has already trained 1.8 million adolescents and children, of which majority are girls. Commenting on the joint-initiative with Microsoft, he said:
“Our partnership with Microsoft is an expansion of this vision where we focus on equipping the young women of our country with skills in emerging technologies like AI and cloud computing empowering them to be a part of the future-ready workforce. Through this initiative, we aim to build an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace of tomorrow.”
Echoing SAP’s advocacy on upskilling the youth, Microsoft India President Anant Maheshwari stressed that skills needed today will be remarkably different from what will be needed in the future. He said that skilling India’s talent and workforce requires a massive effort, especially that digital fluency has now become critical in one’s employability.
“Our partnership with SAP reflects our commitment towards strengthening the skilling ecosystem and closing the digital skills gap by enabling Indian women to pursue the path to success in a digital-first economy,” Maheshwari added.
Creating Pathways to Tech Careers
The TechSaksham sponsored by SAP and Microsoft follows a two-tiered delivery model. The core program engagement will be focused on learning and acquiring skills to understand the application of technology by the students followed by an activity led modular engagement delivered over a year to practice and implement skills under the mentorship of industry experts to ensure job-readiness of the students. The programme is designed to create industry pathways by supporting participants with jobs, internships, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
In the first year of implementation, TechSaksham will be:
- Supporting the professional development of 1,500 teachers
- Training over 50 students per faculty in one year, impacting 60,000-75,000 students
- Directly training 2,000 students across India for employment in tech-related fields
- Available in associated colleges in Delhi/NCR region, Bhopal ,Vijayawada, Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, and Pune
After the first year of implementation, a nodal centre– composed of select teachers and students– will be established in each target geography to eventually drive outreach to regional institutions and motivate students and teachers to participate in the programme.
Detailing the impact of TechSaksham, Anil D Sahasrabudhe, Chairman of AICTE, said:
“More than 60,000 women being trained will create a massive impact. Moreover, with more than 1,000 women faculty certified, it will bring big-ticket changes not only in the employability of graduates but will encourage many more students to start their startup journey.”
