Microsoft has collaborated with the Punjab Group of Colleges (PGC) to train their students in digital skills. The collaboration has been launched under the title ‘Digital Skills Initiative’ with the goals of reimagining the education landscape, empowering the next generation of students and bridging the gap between knowledge and employability.

Microsoft and PGC will train the students in the skills of computing technologies, including Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Business Applications, and Office Automation/Productivity tools. More than 25,000 students throughout the country will benefit from the collaboration in which Microsoft will provide them access to its learning platforms, including Microsoft Learn for Educators, Microsoft Showcase Schools Program, and Microsoft Learn for Students.

After completion of their program, students will also get a free Fundamental Skills Certification. PGC aims to upskill its educators and students to bring them at par with their peers across the globe and make them competitive and ready for the future. Chief Technology Officer Punjab Group of Colleges, Mudassar Farooq has said that we need to make our students ready for the market through equipping them with marketable skills since in this age degrees are not enough.

He said that 80% of employers lay stress on marketable skills in addition to having a proper degree. “This is the reason that we are striving to equip our students with skills needed for innovative technologies.” Country Education Lead Microsoft for Pakistan, Lebanon, and Jordan, Jibran Jamshad said that, “as digital transformation accelerates across industries, digital skills are more important than ever as almost every job requires some level of digital fluency.”

“It is important that schools and colleges equip their students with the skills needed for a digital economy to increase their chances of employability,” he said. He continued, “our longstanding partnership with PGC comes in line with our commitment to provide the education sector in Pakistan with the resources and tools needed to build the next-generation of workforce and allow students and educators to do more with less.”

Jibran Jamshad said that, “building an engaged and digitally skilled workforce enables productivity growth which results in more and better jobs for the current workforce, creating more public and private investment in education and training systems, and, in turn, increasing the employability and productivity of the current and future workforce.”

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk