By the end of 2023, Google will grant 44,500 new Career Certificates scholarships to Pakistanis, increasing its programme to give Pakistani women and recent graduates access to in-demand digital skills. As part of its Career Certificates programme, Google is collaborating with IRM and TechValley to provide three new courses in business intelligence, advanced data analytics, and cybersecurity. The growing relevance of digital skills and the requirement for soft skills, such as communication and adaptability, to remain competitive in the global economy are both highlighted in a new study backed by Google and done by the Economist.
In order to build a supportive environment for upskilling, the study also highlights the importance of employers in facilitating access to upskilling programmes and government legislation. Google’s efforts are designed to provide people from all backgrounds with equal access to digital skills and employment opportunities. Given the high percentage of unemployment among women and young people in Pakistan, Google’s pledge to award 50% of all scholarships to female students is particularly impressive.
“Our goal is to enable Pakistanis to seize the opportunity presented by the country’s position as the third-largest freelance economy globally,” says Farhan Qureshi, Country Director for Pakistan at Google. As of right now, we’ve added three new courses, and by the end of 2023, we’ll have given 45,500 women and recent grads Google Career Certificates.
The Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Honourable Syed Amin Ul Haque, expressed his support for Google’s initiatives to train Pakistani talent in digital skills, noting that they are consistent with the government’s goal of building an ecosystem that gives all Pakistanis an equal chance to succeed.
Iqra Malik and Saif Ullah, alumni of the Google Career Certificate programme, describe how the programme revolutionised their lives—financially and personally—by giving them the necessary skills to succeed as independent contractors and land jobs as performance marketers in software companies.
In order to produce well-rounded individuals prepared for the job market, Google’s partners IRM and TechValley are introducing a soft skills programme for GCC graduates. The four-week online course, created by Google, covers important subjects including critical thinking, time management, personal branding, and communication skills.
By offering people online credentials for well-paying, in-demand occupations with significant growth, Google’s programmes want to contribute to Pakistan’s status as a leading freelancing economy while also fostering an inclusive digital economy.
