Microsoft Partners NIIT to Train Women IT Professionals in India

Microsoft has partnered with IT training solutions firm NIIT for the tech giant's 'Women in Tech' initiative in India, which among other things aims to train and mentor women IT professionals.

Recently, Microsoft announced its plans to train and mentor one million women students, women IT professionals and women entrepreneurs in the next 12 months in India.

NIIT will be the learning partner of Microsoft and roll out the initiative across 5,000 schools, colleges and centres across 200 cities.

"Through this initiative we aim to double the number of women professionals in the Indian IT industry over the next few years. We are excited to partner with NIIT," Microsoft India Chairman Bhaskar Pramanik said in New Delhi.

NIIT will provide specialised consultation sessions and additional test preparation modules for aspirants to successfully validate their skills and acquire globally recognised professional certifications, he added.

NIIT Chairman Rajendra Pawar said students will have the option to choose from NIIT's new-age programmes - FutureSmart series of digital literacy courses, as well as 8 new Technology Skill Enhancer courses addressing technology mega-trends like Cloud and Mobile App Development, Big Data, Cloud Computing and Virtualisation.

"Besides, a Post Graduate Programme in Cloud Computing and IT Management, and a certificate programme in App Development have also been launched. Participants will benefit from the convenience and new-age learning environments provided by NIIT's Cloud Campus and Microsoft's Virtual Academy," he added.

NIIT CEO Vijay Thadani said NIIT and Microsoft have been strategic partners for over two decades with the unified purpose of developing contemporary talent pool for the global IT industry.

"Through our 'IT Wizard' workshops, we will introduce school girls aged 13-16 years across 4,000 schools to the exciting world of IT. Further, a campus connect programme will reach out to young women in over 1,000 colleges and encourage them to participate and contribute to the dream of a Digital India," he added.

Microsoft Learning General Manager Alison Cunard said the Women in Tech initiative in India is a chance for Microsoft to help women and India fill the IT-skills gap and build an economy for the 21st century.

"As a woman in technology, I've seen first-hand how the right training can create great careers. I have also seen how getting women into technology builds more effective teams and helps both men and women succeed," she added.