New Delhi, Feb 20 (.) US-based tech giant Microsoft on Friday announced the initiative of ‘Microsoft Elevate for Educators in India’ to skill two million teachers and reach 200,000 schools and educational institutions by 2030.
According to a Microsoft statement said on Friday, the initiative is designed to equip teachers with practical AI skills, digital literacy tools, and responsible technology frameworks, enabling them to guide students in an increasingly AI-driven world. India, home to one of the largest student populations globally, is being seen as a key hub for this transformation.
Announcing the programme, Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, emphasised that empowering teachers is central to unlocking the potential of AI in education. He noted that as AI becomes embedded in everyday life and workplaces, classrooms must evolve to prepare students with future-ready skills.
The Elevate for Educators programme is built around three core pillars — Credentials, Community, and Capacity.
Under the Credentials pillar, Microsoft will introduce AI-focused professional certifications for teachers across school and higher education levels. These certifications aim to strengthen educators’ understanding of AI tools, ethical usage, and classroom integration.
The Community pillar seeks to create a nationwide network of trained educators who can collaborate, exchange best practices, and mentor peers, fostering a strong ecosystem of AI-enabled teaching professionals.
Through the Capacity pillar, Microsoft plans to establish AI Ambassadors, Educator Academies, Productivity Labs, and Centres of Excellence across thousands of institutions. These facilities will support hands-on training, institutional readiness, and structured integration of AI technologies into teaching methods.
The initiative is aligned with India’s broader digital and education reforms, including the goals of the National Education Policy 2020, which emphasises technology integration and skill-based learning. By supporting teachers at scale, Microsoft aims to ensure AI adoption in classrooms remains responsible, inclusive, and accessible.
As digital transformation reshapes economies worldwide, Microsoft’s Elevate for Educators signals a strong commitment to preparing India’s next generation for the future of work — with teachers leading the way.
. SAS RSA