Ahead of Teachers’ Day, The Government of India has entered into a three-year partnership with Meta to boost education, skill development and Entrepreneurship. A 3-year partnership between the Ministry of Education, Ministry Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Meta was launched in New Delhi on Monday.
The project has been titled “Education to Entrepreneurship: Empowering a generation of students, educators and entrepreneurs”. For this, three Letters of Intent (LoI) were exchanged between Meta and National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
While Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan launched the partnership, Minister of State for Education Annpurna Devi and Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajeev Chandrasekhar also graced the occasion.
Empowering youths
Speaking at the event, Dharmendra Pradhan said that ‘Education to Entrepreneurship’ partnership is a game-changer, which will take Digital Skilling to the grassroots. This will build capacities of our talent pool, seamlessly connect students, youth, workforce and micro-entrepreneurs, with futuristic technologies and transform our youths into new-age problem solvers and entrepreneurs.
He further stated that India’s democracy, demography, and diversity are to be connected with technology conversion so that technology becomes the equalizer for the entire society. Guided by the tenets of National Education Policy, META’s partnerships with NIESBUD, CBSE & AICTE is expected to catalyse infinite possibilities for equipping our population with critical digital skills and empowering micro entrepreneurs and small businesses, he added.
Necessity of Digital Skills
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, in his address, highlighted the Government’s focus on preparing our youth and workforce in these rapidly transforming times, to be equipped with the skills to succeed and play important roles in the evolving landscape of technology and the global economy. Digital skills, while representing skilling and entrepreneurship in the innovation ecosystem, more importantly represents a bridge between lakhs of small rural, micro and self-employed entrepreneurs, enabling them to expand, grow and succeed, he added.
Focus on skill development for startups and businesses
In a video message Meta President, Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, thanked Dharmendra Pradhan for his support in bringing the partnership together between the two most important sectors of the workforce, education and skilling. India’s talent base and rapid digital adoption make it the perfect place for us to invest in emerging technologies, he added. He looked forward to Meta’s contribution in empowering India’s students, young people and entrepreneurs, with significant focus on skill development for Indian startups and businesses, having worked closely with India during its G20 Presidency in areas such as education, job creation, skill development and user safety.
Digital Marketing skills to 5 lakh entrepreneurs
Under the partnership with NIESBUD, 5 lakh entrepreneurs will get access to digital marketing skills by Meta over the next 3 years. Budding and existing entrepreneurs will be trained in digital marketing skills using Meta platforms in 7 regional languages to begin with. Three short films were also showcased highlighting the details about the partnerships.
