Microsoft India, NIIT tie up to offer technology courses to women

NEW DELHI: Microsoft India and NIIT have joined hands to offer technology courses for women through the ‘Women in Tech’ initiative. Through its 500 centres across the country, NIIT will train and certify women in the latest Microsoft technologies. A semester, of two to three months’ duration, will cost Rs 7000 to Rs 10000.

“For a short period, we will also be offering scholarships to encourage women and girls to take up this course. We have kept aside Rs 5 crore for this,” says Vijay Thadani, chief executive officer, NIIT.

NIIT is also looking at introducing various career options in IT to girls aged between 13 and 15 years through its IT wizard workshops in 4,000 schools. “We are looking at creating a pipeline of 1 million women that will be skilled in technology,” Thadani said. Through this initiative, NIIT is looking at imparting technical skills and even mentoring the women who apply for the course.

“This programme will help encourage more women to join the workforce. Globally, women constitute 40% of the workforce, whie in India, there are only 23% women in the workforce,” says Alison Cunard, general manager of Microsoft Learning. Microsoft has recently announced plans to train and mentor one million women students, IT professionals and entrepreneurs in the next 12 months.