Walmart and IISc Launches Center for Tech Excellence to Boost India's Research Ecosystem

Walmart Global Tech has recently announced a partnership with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to establish the Walmart Centre for Tech Excellence. This initiative is aimed at strengthening the research ecosystem in India, particularly in the field of Computer Science.

The center will operate within IISc's Department of Computer Science and Automation and will focus on solving foundational problems in Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML), Computer Systems, and Theoretical Computer Science. It's designed to inspire top researchers in India by offering fellowships to highly skilled pre-doc, PhD, and post-doc candidates.

Moreover, the center plans to mentor students from tier 2 and tier 3 institutes through internships, workshops, and pre-doc opportunities, as well as collaborate with leading international universities.

This collaboration is part of Walmart's vision of leveraging technology to benefit communities and follows the launch of a similar Centre.

To recall, in February 2024, Walmart launched a Center for Tech Excellence at IIT Madras as well. Walmart’s partnerships with academia reinforce its commitment towards serving communities and helping them live better.

Amazon India Launches Amazon Future Engineer Program in Andhra Pradesh

• Amazon India partners with the government of Andhra Pradesh and non-profits to launch the Future Engineer program
• The program will build teacher competencies on Computational Thinking & 21st century skills via blended learning courses in Andhra Pradesh
• The program will take computer science education to 10,000 students and 500 teachers across Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Vizag districts of Andhra Pradesh in 2024-25
• Over 1,00,000 students of the state to benefit through 21st-century skills curriculum by 2026-27

Amazon India has announced that under its Amazon Future Engineer Program in Andhra Pradesh, an MOU was signed between Leadership for Equity (LFE), and Quest Alliance (QA) and the Government of Andhra Pradesh in the presence of key government dignitaries, including the Commissioner of School Education, Shri Suresh Kumar (IAS), the State Project Director of Samagra Shiksha, Shri Srinivas Rao (IAS), and the Director of SCERT, Shri Prathap Reddy. This MOU signifies the launch of the Program in the state, beginning in the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and Visakhapatnam. The program aims to empower 10,000 students with computer science education by the 2024-25 academic year, with a projected impact on over 100,000 students by 2026-27.

The Amazon Future Engineer program in Andhra Pradesh will equip teachers with pedagogical, technical, and teacher leadership skills to effectively deliver computer science curriculum in classrooms through a training program on Computational Thinking & 21st Century Skills. The program will train teachers to run Computational Thinking (CT) Clubs in schools and actively work with the State Council for Education Research and Training (SCERT), to develop and pilot a computer science curriculum for the Government schools of Andhra Pradesh.

Shri Suresh Kumar, Commissioner of School Education, Government of Andhra Pradesh said, “The partnership with Amazon Future Engineer Program underscores our commitment to providing high-quality education to every child in Andhra Pradesh. Through computational thinking modules, the program will nurture a generation of problem-solvers and innovators in an increasingly tech-driven world. Together, we are shaping the future of education and empowering our youth to reach their full potential."

Shri Srinivas Rao, State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha, Government of Andhra Pradesh said, “Our collaboration to expand Amazon Future Engineer Program marks a significant step towards revolutionizing our education system. By integrating computer science teaching excellence courses, we aim to equip our students with essential skills for the digital age, paving the way for a tech-savvy future generation.” He added, “Such private-public partnerships will build the future tech talent pool in India.”

Akshay Kashyap, Lead, Amazon Future Engineer, India said, “Amazon Future Engineer is focused on preparing all students, especially those farthest from opportunity, with skills required for careers of the future, and prioritize partnerships which are aligned with our vision. We recognize computer science as one such key skill and have taken computer science education to over 1.5 million students and 8,000 educators across the nation in the past two years. We have observed that educators who are interested in bringing computer science to their classrooms are key to change. We express our sincere gratitude to the government of Andhra Pradesh for this collaborative effort to enable teachers of Andhra Pradesh to bring computer science education to their classrooms and shape the future of education.”

Amazon introduced the Amazon Future Engineer Program in India in 2021 and has partnered with several education-focused non-profit organizations, including Leadership for Equity and Quest Alliance to take computer science education to more than 10,000 schools in India in the past two years. As a childhood-to-career program, AFE offerings starts with primary schooling and continues through secondary into career. Under this program, Amazon has also offered scholarships and internships to girl students interested to make a career in the tech industry. Throughout, Amazon partners with organizations that share its mission and create opportunities for students to discover the richness of computer science through intersections with self-expression, social justice, sustainability, and more.

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfilment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.in/aboutus.

About Amazon Future Engineer

Amazon Future Engineer is Amazon’s signature computer science education program designed to offer all young people the chance to build their best future, inspiring and educating millions of students globally. Students explore computer science through school curriculum and project-based learning using code to make music, program robots, and solve problems. Through the program, Amazon reaches millions of students from historically underrepresented communities globally. Amazon Future Engineer provides real-world inspired virtual and hands-on computer science project learning. The program is available in the U.S., U.K., Canada, France, and India.

Amazon Expands Future Engineer Program to 120 Govt Schools Across 31 Districts of Telangana

• Amazon India has partnered with Educational Initiatives (Ei) for 120 Government Schools to launch the Amazon Future Engineer Program (AFE) to introduce Computer Science concepts across 31 districts of Telangana.
• The program is impacting over 40,000 students with the support of Tribal and Social Welfare Departments.
• All these students under AFE to participate in the Hour of Code movement celebrated by schools everywhere, as part of Science Education Week in December.

Amazon India has announced expansion of its partnership with Educational Initiatives (Ei) to launch Amazon Future Engineer program in 120 Government Schools across 31 districts of Telangana. The partnership is reaching out to over 40,000 school children through the Amazon Future Engineer Program. The program envisions strengthening Fundamental Literacy and Numeracy skills using Mindspark, a personally adaptive learning platform and to introduce concepts of Computer Science to students in classes five to nine.

The program is designed to offer a tailored learning experience that bridges learning gaps in students by personalising their learning in Maths & Languages. The Computer Science workbooks and Hour of Code activities (from code.org) enable students to learn various topics of Computer Science like, sequencing, loops, encoding etc.

In the month of December, all students part of the AFE program will be celebrating the Hour of Code week to explore the world of computer Science through 1 hour of coding. Hour of Code is a strategic concept that includes engaging games and activities which often use block coding to make it easy for beginners to understand and practice. Hour of Code and Computer Science workbooks nurture the cognitive and analytical skills of the students alongside familiarizing them with the fundamentals of coding. This will help the students in laying a foundation for a future career in computer science or technology.

Dr E Naveen Nicolas, Secretary, Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (TSWREIS) said, “Amazon Future Engineer program's expansion in 120 Government Schools across Telangana is a pivotal step towards empowering our underprivileged students. By blending fundamental literacy, numeracy, and computer science, this initiative nurtures not just academic skills but also lays a robust foundation for future career paths in technology. We're excited about the impact on over thousands of children, bridging learning gaps and fostering a passion for coding, paving the way for a brighter tomorrow."

Amazon Future Engineer (AFE) Program was started in collaboration with Educational Initiatives in 2021 in 50 government schools of Telangana with the goal of making Computer Science education accessible to students from underprivileged communities. With a belief to support these students right from their childhood to helping them establish a career with support from Tribal and Social Welfare Departments of the Government, the program has only grown to reach several such students.

Mr. Akshay Kashyap, India Lead, Amazon Future Engineer, Amazon India said, “The AFE program has demonstrated a shift from basic digital literacy to 21st century skills such as coding, collaboration and problem solving in school ecosystem. With its vision and support of Tribal and Social Welfare Departments, it empowers students from marginalized backgrounds to pursue higher CS education and have better life outcomes. We have observed improved creative thinking and increased student engagement in the 50 Tribal Welfare schools where the program started in the 1st phase. The success and impact of the AFE program inspires us to expand this to many more schools in Telangana and India.”

Amazon Future Engineer is a computer science education program that allows all young people to explore their potential and build a better world for us all. As a childhood to career program, AFE offers programming that starts with primary schooling and continues through secondary into career. Throughout, Amazon partners with organizations that share its mission and create opportunities for students to discover the richness of computer science through intersections with self-expression, social justice, sustainability and more.

Amazon introduced the AFE in other states of India in 2021 and has partnered with several education-focused non-profit organisations including Leadership for Equity, Learning Links Foundation, Pi Jam Foundation, American India Foundation, Code.org, Educational Initiatives, Peepul, The Innovation Story, NavGurukul and Foundation for Excellence; to engage with students and provide them critical learning opportunities. Through this extensive partner network, Amazon has also engaged with key government bodies, policy makers, teachers and the management of thousands of government schools to implement the AFE program in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

About Amazon Future Engineer

Amazon Future Engineer is Amazon’s signature computer science education program designed to offer all young people the chance to build their best future, inspiring and educating millions of students globally. Students explore computer science through school curriculum and project- based learning using code to make music, program robots, and solve problems. Through the program, Amazon reaches millions of students from historically underrepresented communities globally through Amazon Future Engineer with real-world inspired virtual and hands-on computer science project learning. The program is available in the U.S., U.K., Canada, France, and India.

Physics Wallah (PW) Launches PW Institute of Innovation, a Transformative 4-Year Residential Program in AI and Computer Science

Physics Wallah (PW), India's leading ed-tech platform, announces the launch PW Institute of Innovation (PW IOI), a 4-year residential program in computer Science and AI. Aimed at addressing the critical challenges faced by the Indian software industry, it is strategically located in Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India. Designed to make students future ready by equipping them with industry-relevant skills and bridging the demand and supply gap of professionals, along with the employability gap.

The 4 year fully residential program offers a unique and holistic approach to education. With experienced faculty and industry leaders from top companies as mentors, an industry-oriented curriculum, up to 100% scholarships, and real-world projects, students are equipped for success in their professional journey. Personalized guidance, four comprehensive internships, networking opportunities, global exposure and a state-of-the-art campus further enhance the program's effectiveness.

Sudhanshu Kumar- CEO-PW SKills & Vishwa Mohan - CIO and President- PW IOI

The curriculum has been meticulously designed in a way that is aligned with the technology trends in the evolving market today. Additionally, students have the opportunity to pursue bachelor’s degree in parallel from a premier institute. The degree qualifies individuals to explore opportunities for further education in India or abroad and makes them eligible to appear for competitive examinations.

Vishwa Mohan, CIO at PW & President of PW IOI, said, “it is indeed concerning that despite the exponential growth witnessed in the Indian software industry, the employability rate of Indian engineering graduates has remained relatively low, with only marginal improvement over the years. Additionally, the significant increase in the demand-supply gap for skilled AI and data science professionals further highlights the need for a comprehensive transformation in the learning approach. PW IOI aims to address this issue by empowering professionals with employable and effective skills for the rapidly evolving job market.”

Sudhanshu Kumar, CEO PW Skills, emphasized “by combining real-world experience with an industry-focused curriculum, we aim to cater to the immediate needs of our students while also bridging the gap between demand and supply in future job opportunities. Towards the end of the course, the institute's placement cell will offer assistance in securing job offers, with partnerships established with over 500 hiring partners including Tata IQ, Siemens, Leadsquared, SAP, Oracle, KPMG, Amazon and others. Previously, PW Skills has placed more than 1500+ learners with an average salary of 22 LPA and top salary of 50 LPA.

The first batch of PW IOI is set to commence on 27th September 2023, with orientation on 25th September 2023. Registrations for the new batch are now open at pwioi.com, with the entrance exam scheduled for 19th August 2023.

About PW Skills:

PW Skills, the tech skilling vertical of Physics Wallah (PW), is one of the largest online platform for tech skilling with nearly 1 lakh users. The platform offers courses in Hindi, English, and Hinglish, providing a complete skilling ecosystem in one place. The ecosystem includes PW Virtual Lab, an Experience Portal, a Job portal, and a massive online community. To promote job readiness, the PW Virtual Lab provides necessary hardware through the cloud, enabling learners with basic PCs and internet connections to participate in software development and programming courses without the need for expensive hardware. The Experience Portal allows learners to work on end-to-end projects while adhering to industry best practices. Alongside hands-on training, the Experience Portal facilitates development tracking, and peer-to-peer collaboration, and provides an internship experience letter. PW Skills also offers placement assistance through its exclusive job portal. The platform has established partnerships with over 500 companies, including Tata IQ, Siemens, Leadsquared, SAP, Oracle, KPMG, and Amazon to offer top-notch job opportunities.

https://pwioi.com

'CodeQueens' - A Girls-only Hackathon to Promote Gender Diversity in Computer Science, by Codingal

‘CodeQueens’ is an online hackathon for grade 1-12 school girls that aims to close the gender gap in the field of programming and computer science in India

Young girls with an interest in computers and coding have a special event to look forward to starting this month. India’s leading coding platform for K-12 students Codingal is hosting ‘CodeQueens’, an online app, game, and website development hackathon exclusively for K-12 girl students.

Spread over two months, the CodeQueens hackathon will feature multiple coding challenges to build functional websites, apps or games. The hackathon is divided into three groups: Junior (class 1-4), Middle (class 5-8) and Senior (class 9-12) and is open to individual registrations. Winners from each group will receive exclusive scholarships from Codingal.

Vivek Prakash, Cofounder of Codingal said, “The CodeQueens hackathon is our sincere effort to promote gender diversity in the coding space and to boost young girls’ interest and participation in computer programming and related fields.”

To win the hackathon, participants in the Junior group need to build an app, game or animation around the story of Cinderella, or any other fairytale of their choice that has a female as the main character.

In the Middle Group, participants need to build an app or website with useful information about any female role model that inspires them. Senior Group participants are tasked with building an app or a website on the theme of gender equality, with useful information addressing the gender gap issues that exist today, and the necessary steps to combat them.

“While India may have the highest percentage of female STEM graduates, only 14% of them hold STEM jobs (World Bank data). The goal of encouraging female coders is to prepare them for future job-readiness. Hackathons are a great way to enhance coding skills and proficiency. They offer hands-on learning and let participants apply their learning, ideas, and creativity together to solve a problem,” Vivek added.

Registration for the hackathon has already started with final results to be announced on November 21, 2o21.Interested students can register at https://www.codingal.com/competitions/codequeens/

About Codingal

Codingal (www.codingal.com) is the #1 coding platform for K-12, with a mission to inspire school students to fall in love with coding at a young age. Launched in September 2020, Codingal has already empowered 100,000+ students by motivating them to start learning coding via competitions and high-quality coding education. All classes are taught live 1:1 by vetted and trained teachers who are experts at programming and only from a Computer Science background. The coding curriculum is based on a standardized K-12 Computer Science Framework, which students find very fun & engaging.

Today, schools and traditional education systems are not equipped to provide the proper coding education to children. Codingal is here to change that and empower every student with the tools, content, competitions, and live coding classes to start learning to code and build anything they imagine. Codingal is also backed by top industry advisors and investors, including Rebright Partners and Y Combinator.