Skilling & upskilling: Digital Literacy, Gen AI, Workforce Development & Space

The Tech Panda takes a look at the efforts at skilling, upskilling, and reskilling in the tech industry.

Digital Literacy: Zoom Deepens Collaboration with Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) to Advance Digital Inclusion in Karnataka

Zoom Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZM), expanded its collaboration with the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), reinforcing Zoom’s commitment to digital inclusion, economic opportunity, and human connection in India. The initiative will advance access to digital skills and tools across remote and underserved districts of Karnataka.

“Access to technology is the foundation for inclusive growth in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world, but it is human connection that turns access into opportunity,” said Aparna Bawa, Chief Operating Officer, Zoom. “Through our continued collaboration with DEF, we’re helping communities across India build the skills, confidence, and support they need to participate meaningfully and thrive in the digital economy, wherever they are.”

Gen AI: IIT Patna’s Certificate Program in Gen AI for Professionals

IIT Patna’s Certificate Program in Gen AI for professionals, which has demonstrated strong, consistent outcomes across multiple cohorts—an indicator of both academic rigor and industry relevance in India’s rapidly evolving AI education landscape.

The program recorded high enrollments and learner satisfaction across successive batches. Batch 1 (May–November 2025) enrolled 190 professionals with an overall CSAT score of 4.5/5, followed by Batch 2 (August 31–February 28), which saw 308 enrollments and a CSAT score of 4.2/5. Currently, Batch 4 is underway with 288 professionals, reflecting sustained demand for structured, application-oriented generative AI learning from working professionals.

An IIT Patna representative stated that, “The ongoing success of the program represents consistency over time as well as a successful alignment of industry standards to our Generative AI Program curriculum. The program has been designed to provide working professionals with hands-on experience in using generative artificial intelligence to solve real-life problems.”

IT: NIIT MTS & Abodoo Tie Up to Deliver Next-gen Skills Intelligence & Workforce Development Solutions to Global Enterprises

NIIT Learning Systems Limited [NIIT Managed Training Services (NIIT MTS)] (Ticker Symbol: NIITMTS), a platform in managed learning services, tied up with Abodoo, a skills intelligence and orchestration company. Abodoo provides a live, interoperable skills layer across learning, workforce, and talent systems, powered by its proprietary SkillsAI engine and ontology of more than 55,000 skills. The platform enables organizations to establish a common skills language, identify current and future capability gaps, and make data-driven workforce decisions in real time.

“We’re delighted to partner with NIIT MTS to bring live skills intelligence into the heart of enterprise workforce transformation,” said Vanessa Wainwright, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Abodoo. “By combining Abodoo’s skills orchestration infrastructure with NIIT MTS’ deep consulting expertise, we can help organizations move beyond static job and qualification models to build agile, skills-first workforces at scale.”

Space: IN-SPACe & Bennett University Launch Short-Term Course on Communication & Public Engagement in the Space Sector

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), in collaboration with the Times School of Media, Bennett University, launched a short-term course on Communication and Public Engagement in the Space Sector. The intensive, interdisciplinary programme is designed to address the growing need for informed, ethical, and strategic communication in the rapidly evolving global and Indian space ecosystem.

Dr. Vinod Kumar, Director, Promotion Directorate, IN-SPACe, “This course reflects IN-SPACe’s commitment to building skilled human capital that can bridge the gap between space science and society. Recognition under the NCVET framework ensures that the competencies developed through this programme are benchmarked to national standards, giving participants a meaningful advantage as India’s space sector continues to expand.”