With the aim to impart skills in emerging technologies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the FutureSkills, a platform built by industry body Nasscom for skills development. The platform will impart skills development in 8 varied technologies – starting with AI. The other technologies in focus will be Virtual Reality, Robotic Process Automation, Internet of Things, Big Data Analytics, 3D Printing, Cloud Computing, Social and Mobile. Nasscom claimed that this platform is aimed at up-skilling two million technology professions and skilling another two million potential employees and students over the next few years.
Nasscom said that the newly launched platform for re-skilling and up-skilling of workforce in new and emerging ICT technologies is a complement to Digital India initiative of the Government. While Digital India is working on steps to increase domestic electronic production, BPO promotion schemes for employment, this platform will make talent available for India and the Indian industry to embrace opportunities from emerging technologies”.
Industry body also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, to collaborate on reskilling initiatives. As a part of the MoU, Nasscom and MeitY will work together to enable skill development and continuous learning not only for individuals in the IT-ITeS industry and its aspirants; but also, employees belonging to other sectors.
“Digital empowerment can only happen if there is digital inclusion. With the advent of new technologies like AI, Blockchain and IoT, reskilling of young professionals is critical. I'm pleased that NASSCOM has come up with this unique platform for skilling and reskilling young people where my department and team will provide lot of support and assistance. It is all about teamwork where government and private sector leaders and organisations like NASSCOM need to come together and contribute towards digital inclusion,” Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.
R. Chandrashekhar, President, NASSCOM said, “Across the whole spectrum of the industry, skill profiles are undergoing rapid changes witnessing a rising demand for enhanced digital capabilities. With this growing need we are confident that the FutureSkills platform will not only help re-engineer education and but also create employment prospects. Also, the MoU we signed today is a momentous milestone in industry and government's collaborative initiatives to build sustainable talent for the industry.”
NASSCOM said that it has conducted a comprehensive study with the Boston Consulting Group to identify 8 technologies, poised to grow tremendously, both nationally and globally, in the coming decade, along with associated 55 job roles and corresponding skills required for those technologies. The FutureSkills platform will enable discovery, continuous learning and a marketplace of best-in-class training providers/virtual labs and certifications for each of these job roles and skills, with customised pathways for learning.
