The Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) unveiled on Saturday an online training scholarship to enhance the tech skills of Egyptian youngsters, through the global online learning platform, Udacity. The online initiative, open to up to 100,000 Egyptians, is part of a move to help them master the latest tech skills, and brush up on their core skill set. Udacity, which offers career training, is set to offer skills training, especially those in demand in the job market. The initiative comes as part of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology's ambitious strategy of investing heavily in building local talent and reinforcing Egypt's large, well-educated workforce. The technology training programme aims to equip young Egyptians with the necessary tools and skills needed for the freelance market, help them master remote work, and excel in digital jobs. "With the strong momentum towards going all-digital, we offer our youth a unique virtual academy with free Nanodegree programmes," CEO of ITIDA Hala El-Gohary said. She added, "It has never been a better time to launch such an initiative, as the freelance market is expected to grow rapidly due to COVID-19, and will push organisations and governments to accelerate the adoption of digital services, thus the demand for gigs and remote work opportunities will soar." The 18-month scholarship programme titled "Future Work is Digital-fwd" focuses on teaching web development, data analytics, and digital marketing. Egypt FWD provides learners with an integrated learning experience to upskill, which includes access to Udacity's online learning classrooms. There is also access to hands-on-practice, expert-reviewed projects, online support webinars, professional industry mentors, interactive peer-to-peer community and continuous coaching. The educational initiative offers four scalable tracks in each specialisation, starting with the Challenge track. It takes learners on an upscale capability journey through professional, advanced, and outstanding tracks. Learners will be able to access and register for the scholarship through a dedicated ITIDA website, to help them navigate the tracks and choose the appropriate training course according to their skill level.
