Bengaluru, March 4. Simplilearn — a San Francisco-based global digital skills training provider, announced a partnership with IIT-Kanpur to offer an exclusive Professional Certificate Program in Blockchain Technology. Delivered via Simplilearn’s learning model, this intensive program is designed to provide learners with a clear competitive advantage through an ideal blend of conceptual training and applied learning.

“Given the enormous scope of blockchain, organisations across industries are now absorbing this technology. The global blockchain market size is expected to grow from US $3 billion in 2020 to US $39.7 billion by 2025, at an impressive CAGR of 67.3 percent during this period. In light of this, we are happy to collaborate with IIT-Kanpur to offer a comprehensive program on blockchain technology. This in-depth program will provide extensive knowledge of blockchain concepts and will enable learners to boost their career prospects in several industries,” said Anand Narayanan, chief product officer of Simplilearn.

Imagine Cup India winners

New Delhi, March 10. Microsoft Inc announced the India winners of the 2021 edition of the company’s Imagine Cup innovation challenge for students and technology enthusiasts. The India winners, Team Detected of the G.H. Raisoni College of Engineering, Nagpur, and Team Intelli-Sense from the Vellore Institute of Technology will proceed directly to the world finals of Imagine Cup scheduled to be held online in April.

Imagine Cup is a global competition designed to empower students to apply artificial intelligence and other technologies to solve some of the world’s most critical social and sustainability problems. The 2021 India edition attracted 353 team and 10,000 individual entries from across the country. The knowledge partner for the India edition of Imagine Cup 2021 was the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

“Microsoft’s Imagine Cup competition is a commitment to create a culture of innovation among students, enabling them to use technology for solving critical social and sustainability problems. I wish our winning teams luck as they prepare for the global stage,” said Anant Maheshwari, president, Microsoft India, speaking on the occasion.

Tejas teacher training initiative

Mumbai, March 19. Tejas, an innovative teacher training project delivered by the British Council in association with Tata Trusts and the Maharashtra state government, has been successfully completed. The project’s objective was to train government primary school teachers across Maharashtra to improve their English language proficiency. The project trained 51,000 teachers in 36 districts of Maharashtra, teaching 1.4 million children in public schools.

The Project Tejas completion ceremony was attended by Ms Varsha Gaikwad, minister of school education of the government of Maharashtra; Barbara Wickham, director (India) of the British Council; Dr. Jovan Ilic, director (West India) of the British Council; Amrita Patwardhan, head of education, Tata Trusts, among others.

Women skilling initiative

Bengaluru, March 9. The Beijing-based multi-national Lenovo Group Ltd announced a partnership with the Washington (USA)-based TechnoServe International Foundation (TIF) to empower women in technology by upskilling them in STEM (science, technology, engineering & mathematics) subjects for careers in industry.

With an investment of Rs.2.5 crore, they will provide holistic skills training to 100 women students from marginalised communities enrolled in colleges in Mumbai. The chosen students will be trained for careers in the IT/ITES and BFSI industries.

“We are happy to be associated with non-profit TIF to deliver skills training programmes for women from marginalised communities for the IT/ITES sector. We believe that technology companies have the capability to enable diversity and inclusion. Thus far, Lenovo has empowered 47 women from disadvantaged communities across India through its philanthropic initiatives,” said Rahul Agarwal, CEO-MD of Lenovo India, speaking on the occasion.

Also read: AISECT partners with Microsoft & NSDC to train women

AM/NS-BITS-Pilani program

Surat, March 1. ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India), a joint venture between ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel — two of the world’s largest steel companies — signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS-Pilani) to introduce a sponsored B.Tech Process Engineering Work Integrated Learning degree programme for in-service engineers.

The duration of this online program for in-service professionals is three and a half years and will be conducted digitally by BITS, Pilani faculty. The course also enables participants easy access to the institute’s online state-of-the-art laboratories and libraries.

“We are proud to partner with BITS-Pilani as it is among the best technical education institutes of the country. We are confident this program will build a strong knowledge base and confidence in our young engineers and help them successfully manage challenging assignments as they grow with AM/NS India,” said Anil Matoo, chief people officer, AM/NS India, speaking on the occasion.