Transforming Futures: IT Certificate Program Celebrates Success

The Certificate Program in Information Technology, spearheaded by the LTI Mindtree Foundation in collaboration with IIIT Dharwad and the Edunet Foundation, has successfully trained over 139 students from Dharwad and Hyderabad. The initiative significantly impacted their economic mobility, providing hands-on IT skills, leading to substantial employment opportunities and income growth.

LTI Mindtree Foundation, in collaboration with IIIT Dharwad and the Edunet Foundation, has celebrated a significant milestone with the completion of its Certificate Program in Information Technology. Launched in January 2023, the program aimed to equip youths, who had discontinued formal education after Class X, with essential IT skills.

Over 18 months, 59 students from Dharwad and 80 from Hyderabad gained industry-relevant IT expertise through hands-on experiences and project work. Students, most of whom had never used a computer before, initially learned computer basics before specializing in IT-Enabled Services or Full Stack Web Development. This experiential learning approach, featuring capstone projects presented to industry leaders, effectively bridged the training and local employment ecosystem.

The program concluded with convocation ceremonies in July and August 2024, with over 139 students honored for their achievements. The program's impact is striking, with over 82% of Hyderabad and 70% of Dharwad trainees securing employment and an average 30% rise in family income. LTI Mindtree Foundation's Chief Sustainability Officer, Paneesh Rao, and Edunet Foundation's Executive Director, Nagesh Singh, emphasized the program's role in economic and social upliftment.

(With inputs from agencies.)