Google Scholarship for Pakistan: Google announced today that it will provide a total of 44,500 new Google Career Certificates (GCC) scholarships by the end of 2023, in order to help more Pakistanis gain access to sought-after digital skills. This initiative comes after Google launched GCC in October of last year.
Google has extended its commitment to support the development of Future Forward Pakistan by introducing three new courses to their Career Certificates program. The program aims to assist Pakistani women and young graduates in obtaining recognized certificates that will help them achieve their career goals. The three new courses added to the program are Business Intelligence, Advanced Data Analytics, and Cybersecurity. The initiative is being carried out in collaboration with IRM and TechValley.
The Economist, in collaboration with Google, has released a new study today which highlights the need for additional support to fully leverage Pakistan’s digital workforce. The study reveals that Pakistan must acquire in-demand digital skills in order to maintain competitiveness in both local and global markets
Google scholarships for Pakistan: Google 3 New Course
Additionally, the research indicates that:
Growing Significance of Digital Skills
Employers will play a crucial role in providing information about and access to upskilling programs to their existing workforce as digital skills continue to become increasingly important. According to a survey, more than half of employees (57.3%) consider digital skills to be the most important to acquire. Additionally, 81% of employees agree that acquiring digital skills has helped them gain confidence and improve in other areas such as communication, analysis, and critical thinking.
Soft Skills are Essential Across Various Sectors and Job Functions:
Workers who learn skills such as communication and adaptability will have a significant advantage as these abilities are applicable across diverse job roles and industries. According to a survey, 47% of employees view soft skills as a crucial area for upskilling. Moreover, 71.4% of the respondents consider adaptability and flexibility to be of high importance, and 81.5% report that communication is a necessary skill.
Creating a Favorable Ecosystem:
Government can provide more equal access to skilling by collaborating closely with companies, organizations, and communities and offering incentives and supportive policies.
According to Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, unemployment rates are higher than average among women and youth – 31% of the total unemployed are youth, of which women make up 51%. Through initiatives such as Google Career Certificates and scholarships Google helps create more equal opportunities for people from different groups and backgrounds to gain access to digital skills and job opportunities.
Farhan Qureshi, the Country Director for Pakistan at Google, recently stated that Google is dedicated to assisting in the development of an inclusive digital economy in Pakistan by utilizing its programs, products, and services. The company is also committed to investing in the development of Pakistani talent in order to equip them with the digital skills necessary for growth and success. Pakistan is ranked as the third largest freelance economy in the world, making digital skills highly sought after. Google’s objective is to enable Pakistanis to seize these opportunities by providing online qualifications for high-growth, high-demand, and well-paying jobs. To this end, in addition to the six courses launched last year, the company has introduced three new courses and has pledged to distribute 45,500 Google Career Certificates to women and young graduates in Pakistan by the end of 2023.
Iqra Malik, a recent graduate in Data Analytics from GCC and a Data Analyst Freelancer, shared her experience of how the course transformed her life by equipping her with valuable new skills. These skills helped her excel in her freelance work, support her family financially, and take on various projects for clients. The course not only gave her financial stability but also a sense of fulfilment and accomplishment.
Saif Ullah, a Digital Marketing graduate from Lahore, stated that completing the certificate had a significant impact on his life, both personally and professionally. It helped him identify a clear roadmap for his future career path. With the help of the course, he secured a job as a performance marketer in a software house and also opened doors to income generation through freelancing. He has created accounts on Upwork and Fiverr to explore freelancing opportunities.
To create well-rounded professionals ready for the job market, Google’s partners IRM and TechValley are launching a soft skills program for GCC graduates. The online program covers critical topics, including Communication Skills, Personal Branding, Time Management, and Critical Thinking. The program will take four weeks to complete, which includes practical assignments and homework. The curriculum is designed by Google and will be delivered by IRM and TechValley.