As new technologies and fast-growing digitalisation across sectors expand their horizons and become indispensable for professions across the IT spectrum, IT industry forum National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) has introduced a platform, called FutureSkills, for skills development in eight varied technologies—starting with artificial intelligence (AI).
The other technologies in focus will be virtual reality, robotic process automation, Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data analytics, 3D printing, cloud computing, social and mobile.
This is aimed at up-skilling two million technology professions and skilling another two million potential employees and students over the next few years. Nasscom also signed a memorandum of understanding with the ministry of electronics and IT, reported Financial Express.
As a part of the MoU, Nasscom and the Central ministry will work together to enable skill development and continuous learning not only for individuals in the IT-ITeS industry and its aspirants; but also, employees belonging to other sectors. Commenting on the MoU, Ravi Shankar Prasad, minister of law & justice and electronics and IT, said, “Digital empowerment can only happen if there is digital inclusion. With the advent of new technologies like AI, Blockchain and IoT, reskilling of young professionals is critical.
While the MoU evangelises re-skilling by supporting the industry and other stakeholders; FutureSkills aims to charter the roadmap for the sustained growth in various fields starting with three distinct job roles for AI. R Chandrashekhar, president, Nasscom said, “Across the whole spectrum of the industry, skill profiles are undergoing rapid changes witnessing a rising demand for enhanced digital capabilities. With this growing need we are confident that the FutureSkills platform will not only help re-engineer education and but also create employment prospects.”
Nasscom has conducted a comprehensive study with the Boston Consulting Group to identify eight technologies, poised to grow tremendously, both nationally and globally, in the coming decade, along with associated 55 job roles and corresponding skills required for those technologies.