In a major push for inclusive digital skilling, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Microsoft have signed an MoU to launch the ‘AI Careers for Women’ initiative, establishing 30 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in women’s colleges across six Indian states. Aimed at bridging the gender gap in emerging technologies, the program will train 20,000 women through a 240-hour industry-aligned AI curriculum, developed in consultation with NCVET.
Each CoE will function as a hub, supporting a network of 150 women’s colleges, mainly in Tier-II and Tier-III towns. The initiative includes AI certifications, internships, apprenticeships, fellowships, and job placements, while also nurturing innovation-led entrepreneurship. Microsoft will deliver the training under its AI skilling and innovation framework, and Edunet Foundation will lead implementation in collaboration with academic institutions and state departments.
In Guwahati, stakeholders see this as a timely intervention, with the city’s IT and startup ecosystem rapidly evolving. The program is expected to significantly enhance women’s participation in the local digital economy, preparing a skilled workforce to meet the rising demand for AI professionals in Assam’s growing innovation landscape.
