In a landmark collaboration aimed at fostering technological literacy and empowering the youth with in-demand digital skills, ServiceNow, a leading U.S.-based digital workflow company, has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Education. This strategic partnership sets forth an ambitious agenda to train over 10,000 students in the first year alone, with a vision to scale up to 25,000 students within three years.
The core objective of this partnership is to provide students with global and centralised opportunities to learn cutting-edge skills and capabilities, thus equipping them for the future job market. Through this collaboration, students will gain access to training courses on the ServiceNow Platform via the Now Learning platform, delving into both administrative and developmental aspects. Moreover, they will be introduced to essential insights into AI technologies, aligning their education with the evolving demands of the tech industry.
According to a recent research report jointly conducted by ServiceNow and Pearson, the advent of AI and automation is poised to revolutionise India’s job landscape, requiring a staggering 16.2 million workers to upskill and reskill. Simultaneously, this technological evolution is anticipated to create 4.7 million new jobs within the tech sector, highlighting the critical importance of initiatives like the one undertaken by ServiceNow and AICTE.
Commenting on the significance of this partnership, Nick Tzitzon, Chief Strategy and Corporate Affairs Officer at ServiceNow, emphasised its potential to cultivate a pool of qualified talent capable of driving the next wave of tech innovation in India. The collaboration seeks to empower students with advanced training in innovative concepts and techniques, thereby fostering a culture of exploration and adaptation to cutting-edge technologies.
Echoing Tzitzon’s sentiments, Prof. (Dr) T G Sitharam, Chairman of AICTE, underscored the commitment of the council towards student upskilling and technological literacy, essential pillars for future success in the digital age. He highlighted the collaboration as a pivotal step towards providing students with the necessary tools and motivation to explore and excel in emerging technological domains.
ServiceNow’s RiseUp program, a global initiative aimed at empowering young engineers with job-ready capabilities, stands as a testament to the company’s commitment to addressing the skills gap. In India, ServiceNow has launched the University Academic program, partnering with 20 universities across 16 states. These initiatives, bolstered by collaborations with Government bodies like Nasscom and ICT Academy in Tamil Nadu, underscore ServiceNow’s dedication to nurturing talent and fostering innovation within the country.
Notably, India serves as a crucial hub for ServiceNow, with around one-fifth of its global employee count, totaling 20,000, based in the country. This underscores India’s strategic importance in the company’s global operations and its commitment to leveraging the country’s vast talent pool.
As the partnership between ServiceNow and AICTE sets sail, it heralds a new era of collaboration between industry and academia, aimed at shaping a workforce equipped to thrive in the digital age. With a focus on skilling and upskilling, this alliance holds the promise of not only addressing the immediate demands of the tech industry but also nurturing a generation of innovators poised to lead India’s technological renaissance.
The collaborative efforts of ServiceNow and AICTE exemplify a shared commitment to realising India’s potential as a global tech powerhouse, one skilled student at a time.
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