Today, 25 June, Tech giant IBM has rolled out ‘SkillsBuild Reignite’, a platform to provide job seekers and entrepreneurs with access to free online coursework and mentoring support, designed to help them reinvent their careers and businesses, said a statement issued.
According to the India Skill Report (2019), only 45.6% of the youth graduating from educational institutions are employable. This reflects the massive shortage of skilled workforce in the country. Job seekers, business owners, entrepreneurs, and any individual with learning aspirations can use the platform to reskill and upskill themselves in relevant content that includes artificial intelligence, cloud, data analytics, and security.
In November 2019, IBM India, in partnership with Directorate General of Training (DGT), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, and its implementation partners made the SkillsBuild online learning platform available to Indian students. Digital classrooms on this platform are being made available from the Industrial Training Institutes, ITI, and technical education ecosystem in India.
The platform will now include more coursework and personalized coaching for entrepreneurs seeking advice to help establish or restart their small businesses as they focus on recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. Courses include financial management, business strategy, digital strategy, legal support, and more.
“Today, we mark a significant milestone in supporting the Centre’s efforts in accelerating the Indian economy’s revival from the adverse effects of COVID with the launch of SkillsBuild Reignite, in collaboration with IBM India. In line with our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Skill India Mission and New Digital India, the Ministry has been working relentlessly to strengthen the skilling ecosystem and leverage the rise in demand for new-age skills by expanding industry cross-collaboration and creating learning pathways through digital learning platforms,” said Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Union minister of skill development and entrepreneurship.
Within the first six weeks of its deployment in India, the platform has already benefited 4,700 learners across 15 states and Union Territories, despite lockdowns and restrictions. SkillBuild has already benefited 14,135 learners who have completed 40,000 courses and 77,000 hours of e-learning.
“There is a need to shift the needle and focus on new technologies and changing skill requirements to bridge the skill gap. It’s important that we align the workforce to industry needs and technology shifts. The SkillsBuild Reignite platform helps equip job seekers with digital, professional skills and relevant training to re-enter the workforce. Not only does this platform provide career reinvention opportunities but also innovative ways of working and individualized support for relaunching business strategies,” said Sandip Patel, general manager, IBM India/South Asia.
“Through SkillsBuild, we also aim to serve startups and entrepreneurs, especially those who are medium or small scale and have been badly hit by the pandemic,” Patel added.
More information about SkillsBuild and SkillsBuild Reignite can be found at SkillsBuild.org, follow IBM’s corporate social responsibility initiatives by following @IBMorg or visiting www.IBM.org
