In a landmark move to bridge the gender gap in tech, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Microsoft have jointly launched the ‘AI Careers for Women’ initiative. This strategic collaboration, formalized through an MoU signed on April 22, aims to empower 20,000 women across six Indian states through industry-aligned Artificial Intelligence (AI) training.
Under the initiative, 30 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) will be established in women’s colleges, each serving as a hub supporting 150 additional institutions, mainly in Tier-II and Tier-III towns. The centres will offer a comprehensive 240-hour AI curriculum, co-developed with the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), incorporating certifications, internships, fellowships, and pathways to AI-driven entrepreneurship.
Hon’ble Minister Jayant Chaudhary emphasized that embedding the program within credit-linked university curricula and aligning it with the National Education Policy would create an inclusive, innovation-driven economy. Edunet Foundation will implement the program in collaboration with state governments and industry bodies. In Guwahati, industry leaders welcomed the move as a boost to the region’s growing tech ecosystem. With AI-driven demand rising in Assam, the program is expected to significantly enhance local women’s participation in the digital workforce, particularly in the emerging Guwahati startup and IT services market.
