New Delhi: Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday launched NIELIT Digital University and inaugurated five centres, including one in Odisha, virtually.
This platform has been designed to democratise access to high-quality digital education. It will offer industry-focused programmes in niche technologies such as AI, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Semiconductors, and allied fields. It will provide flexible digital learning modes and virtual labs to equip youth with future-ready skills.
Besides Balasore in Odisha, the other four centres are at Muzaffarpur (Bihar), Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Lunglei (Mizoram), and Daman in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
During the launch event, Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) were also exchanged between NIELIT and Microsoft, Zscaler, CCRYN, Dixon Tech and Future Crime.
Speaking on the occasion, Vaishnaw said: “Three years ago, a decision was taken to establish a Digital University. There were many options on the table, but the best choice was NIELIT. We must prepare a list of 500 industry partners — and they don’t necessarily have to be only from electronics or IT. These technologies are now used across every sector. Wherever electronics and IT are in use, our goal must be to train and prepare students to meet those specific demands. Today, the electronics manufacturing sector alone has grown into an industry worth Rs 13 lakh crore. I firmly believe that NIELIT will achieve even greater milestones in the near future.”
Highlighting the importance of the MoUs, the Union Minister said that these MoUs will play a pivotal role in strengthening industry-academia collaboration. He further stated that NIELIT should engage in talks with the top 500 companies & sign MoUs by following the motto “You Decide What To Teach’, so as to align NIELIT courses with the industry requirements.
