New Delhi, October 28, 2022: Microsoft has decided to expand the scope of the CyberShikshaa programme to upskill 45,000 students with technical skills as well as provide job opportunities in cyber security to 10,000 learners in the next three years. The CyberShikshaa programme functions in association with the Data Security Council of India (DSCI), Tata STRIVE, and ICT Academy.
The announcement was made in New Delhi in the presence of the following personalities:
- Rama Vedashree, former Chief Executive Officer of Data Security Council of India (DSCI)
- Tom Burt, Corporate Vice President, Customer Security and Trust, Microsoft
- Dr. Rohini Srivathsa, National Technology Officer, Microsoft India
- Hari Balachandran, Chief Executive Officer, ICT Academy
- Rajarshi Mukherjee, Principal Lead – Partnerships, Tata STRIVE.
Note:
- The programme was launched in 2018 by Microsoft and Data Security Council of India (DSCI) to build a diverse pool of cybersecurity talent.
- Since 2018, the programme has trained 1,100 women and employed more than 800 women through multiple training batches.
- More than 5,000 youth have also been trained in cybersecurity beginners modules.
CyberShikshaa Programme – Key Features
- The programme is a joint initiative of the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) & Microsoft.
- The programme’s course curriculum will be designed by the Data Security Council of India which is India’s premier data & cyber security industry body.
- The programme curriculum consists of intensive training for more than 400 hours in several modules, including Information Security, Application Security, Cloud Security, Cyber Forensics, Cryptography, and Network Security, among others, along with crucial employability skills such as workplace communication, email etiquette and interview preparation.
- The programme is supported by the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) -Information Security Education & Awareness (ISEA) initiative.
- Centre of Advance Computing (CDAC) will be imparting training to the enrolled candidates in this initiative and programme.
- The programme will be a 4 months interactive training course with a combination of theory, case studies, practical hands-on and projects.
- The programme will be rolled out in Noida, Patna, Hyderabad, Mohali etc.
- The programme will also cover Mentoring & Soft Skill workshops from time to time. On successful completion of the training, a certificate will be awarded along with placement assistance.
CyberShikshaa Programme – Eligibility Criteria
- Exclusively for women candidates and Engineering graduates.
- Candidates must be between 21 to 26 years of age.
- The family income of the candidates must not be more than INR 5 lacs per annum.
CyberShikshaa Programme – Current Aims
Currently, the programme has the following aims:
- To focus on having industry partnerships.
- To conduct specialised training for careers in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) industry.
- To spread awareness in semi-urban and rural locations.
- To offer artificial intelligence and machine learning training for cybersecurity product development and enable cybersecurity certifications through an enhanced cybersecurity beginners programme -‘Ready4Cybersecurity’.
- To give Ready4Cybersecurity certifications to more than 10,000 rural unreserved youth.
- To address the issues of the gender divide and empower underserved communities through technical training, mentoring internships, and employment opportunities.
CyberShikshaa Programme – Benefits
- Candidates will receive financial support to cover training costs through Microsoft CSR Program.
- Candidates will learn through courses designed by industry experts.
- Candidates will be able to develop soft skills & will become industry ready.
- Placement assistance will be given to the best talent.
- Candidates will get the opportunity to be mentored by industry experts in cyber security.
Note: To know more about the programme, please click here. You can also go through the programme brochure by clicking here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many students will be trained under the CyberShikshaa initiative?
Microsoft has decided to expand the scope of the CyberShikshaa initiative to upskill 45,000 students with technical skills as well as provide job opportunities in cyber security to 10,000 learners in the next three years.
Which organisations are involved in the functioning of the CyberShikshaa initiative?
The CyberShikshaa initiative functions in association with the Data Security Council of India (DSCI), Tata STRIVE, and ICT Academy.
What is the eligibility criteria to get selected for the CyberShikshaa initiative?
The CyberShikshaa initiative is meant exclusively for women candidates and Engineering graduates who are between 21-26 years of age and whose family income is not more than INR 5 lacs per annum.
