Microsoft and Trainocate to bridge digital skills gap

Microsoft and Trainocate, a learning and development service provider, will work together to bridge the digital skills divide in Sri Lanka and route students to diverse and equitable hiring and employment opportunities.

With this partnership Microsoft is aiming to reach more than 600 undergraduate and graduate students in Sri Lanka to address the needs of students who require digital skills to stay competitive and empower them to seize the employment opportunities of the future, Microsoft said in a media release.

Trainocate was recognised as the 2021 Microsoft Learning Partner of the Year. The company was honoured among a global field of top Microsoft partners for demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementation of customer solutions based on Microsoft technology.

“Trainocate is thrilled to be collaborating with Microsoft. Now more than ever, we must work to uplift and train the youth to ensure they are meeting the needs of the current labour market,” said Zafarullah Hashim, CEO of Trainocate SEA New Markets and UAE. “We hope that our partnership with Microsoft becomes a model for digital workforce training. We are committed to this effort and appreciate the investments that Microsoft is making in our community.”

Microsoft is committed to building an ecosystem that provides upskilling, re-skilling and cross-skilling for in-demand jobs and a path to employment that supports long- term careers. The company will award free vouchers to 500 participants to help them sit for their Microsoft Azure Certification Exam. The top 10 students will receive a scholarship to study accredited instructor-led rolebased Microsoft certification courses. The students that complete these courses will be offered internship positions at leading global ICT-BPO companies operating in Sri Lanka, the release said.

“Equitable access to digital skills training creates long-term career pathways for our students, unlocking the type of economic opportunities that strengthen communities,” said Sook Hoon Cheah, General Manager for the Southeast Asia New Markets in Asia- Pacific, Microsoft “We believe that success hinges on our ability to foster a culture of innovation and empowering our diverse workforce to evolve, adapt and grow. Our partnership with Trainocate serves as a model for the kind of positive change that can be driven in Sri Lanka by working together.”