TED NewsDesk, New Delhi: Tech giant Microsoft announced its collaboration with the All India Council For Technical Education (AICTE) on Monday. This move is for empowering students and educators in new-age technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), data science and cloud computing.
As part of the collaboration, over 1,500-course modules from Microsoft will be made available to students and educators free of cost through AICTE’s e-learning portal ELIS, as per a statement. Microsoft’s learning resource centre Microsoft Learn has been integrated with the ELIS platform to enable access to personalised learning resources for students, covering a variety of technologies like AI, IoT, data science and cloud computing, among others, it added.
The collaboration will also provide educators access to online learning paths and instructor-led training material through the Microsoft Learn for Educators platform. Eligible educators and faculty members will be able to access Microsoft’s ready-to-teach curriculum and teaching materials designed with industry-recognised Microsoft certifications, it said.
The collaboration with All India Council For Technical Education (AICTE) is part of Microsoft’s commitment to building a robust skilling ecosystem in India and ensure continuity in learning, as per Microsoft India President Anant Maheshwari. “COVID-19 has accelerated the need for upskilling and has shown clearly that the future of learning will be profoundly personalised and supported by technology. We are committed to empowering learners and educators across the country to skill themselves in emerging technologies and partner in the journey to thrive in a digital future,” he added.
Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman of AICTE, mentioned the importance of upskilling to enhance employability opportunities for students.
“AICTE is happy to partner with Microsoft to help students get an opportunity to be hands-on with the latest technology and build products and services for the future,” he added.
Through this partnership, students will also get an opportunity to gain hands-on technology exposure with Azure for Students. Eligible students aged 18 and above will be able to build apps, explore AI, and make the most of big data with access to more than 25 free Azure services along with USD 100 in Azure credit, renewable annually.
To make learning more interactive, Microsoft will also host live webinars on next-generation technologies for students of AICTE. To ensure technology benefits, everyone, Microsoft will sponsor 1,000 Microsoft Certification Exam Vouchers spanning different technologies for students from underserved communities.