Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Microsoft Launch ‘AI Careers for Women’ Initiative
Mumbai: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Microsoft have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the ‘AI Careers for Women’ initiative. The program aims to empower women in higher education institutions to pursue careers in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and bridge the gender gap in emerging tech.
30 Centers of Excellence (CoEs) will be established in women’s colleges across six states to offer specialized undergraduate AI courses. Each CoE will support a network of 150 additional women’s colleges across six states, primarily located in Tier-II and Tier-III towns. The program includes a 240-hour AI curriculum, offering certification, internships, apprenticeships, fellowships, and job opportunities.
Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge), MSDE, said: “This initiative exemplifies how government and industry can come together to shape an inclusive and future-ready workforce.” Aparna Gupta, Global Delivery Center Leader Microsoft India, said: “We believe that equitable access to AI skills is crucial for inclusive economic growth.”
The program will train and empower 20,000 women to enter the AI-driven workforce, providing them with industry-aligned skills and pathways to innovation-led entrepreneurship. The initiative will also create opportunities for women in rural India to innovate on AI and enhance their economic opportunities.
