Global technology major IBM today announced an ambitious commitment to skill five million students and adult learners across India in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Quantum Computing by 2030. The initiative will be delivered through IBM SkillsBuild, advancing the company’s mission to create an equitable, future-ready digital workforce. IBM said the programme will expand emerging technology education across schools, universities and vocational training systems nationwide. The company will collaborate with AICTE to drive hands-on AI learning pathways, faculty development, curriculum integration, hackathons and internships.
“India possesses the talent and ambition to lead the world in AI & Quantum. Fluency in frontier technologies will define economic competitiveness,” said Arvind Krishna, IBM Chairman, President and CEO. “Our commitment to skill five million people is an investment in that future.” IBM is co-developing AI curriculum and teaching resources for senior secondary schools, including the AI Project Cookbook, Teacher Handbook and explainer modules, enabling teachers to deliver responsible AI education confidently at scale.
Education and IT training institutions in Kolkata anticipate strong demand for AI-linked skilling programs following the IBM announcement. Industry observers say the city’s workforce and student base, with its growing tech start-up ecosystem and IT hubs in Salt Lake Sector V, could benefit significantly from expanded access to advanced training and internships. With over 1,000 courses on SkillsBuild and 16 million global learners, IBM’s initiative forms part of its plan to train 30 million people globally by 2030, positioning India as a major accelerator in that mission.