📱 AI and Digital Skills #16
HolonIQ is tracking reskilling and upskilling efforts to meet the rising demand for AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity skills. As these fields evolve, continuous learning is key to staying competitive and building a future-ready workforce.
This week, global tech leaders are launching major AI and digital upskilling initiatives. Cisco, backed by France 2030, will train 230,000 people and boost AI R&D in France. HP expands in Egypt to support digital transformation under Vision 2030. Upskilling in the AI and Digital sector, Nigeria, ChipMango, and NITDA will train in AI and semiconductors, while the government plans to train 5 million workers to address an $11B skills gap. Bogotá offers 12,000+ free tech courses with global certifications. Google Canada funds $5M in AI education via a national consortium. Alibaba Cloud partners with Mapúa University to deliver AI/cloud training, supporting the Philippines’ national AI strategy.
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AI and Digital Labor Market Trends
🦾 Cisco Launches Global AI Hub and Upskilling Drive in France. Backed by France 2030, this initiative will train 230,000 people over three years and expand access to free digital skills via Cisco’s Networking Academy, focusing on energy-efficient infrastructure, AI innovation, and digital upskilling. The hub also includes investments and R&D partnerships in AI and quantum tech, cementing France’s role in Europe’s digital future.
🧠 HP Expands in Egypt to Boost Digital Transformation Under Vision 2030. HP Inc. has launched a new office in Cairo and is expanding its team in Egypt over the next three years, aligning with Egypt Vision 2030 and the Digital Egypt Strategy. The tech giant aims to support national development by enabling digital transformation, workforce readiness, and SME growth through AI-enabled devices, hybrid infrastructure, and technology access.
🤖 ChipMango & NITDA Join Forces to Build Nigeria’s AI & Semiconductor Workforce ChipMango has teamed up with NITDA to launch semiconductor and AI training centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The initiative will offer certifications, hands-on microchip design, and Edge AI R&D, aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda and Local Content First Policy.
India and China saw >90% of Their Knowledge Workers Using Gen AI on the Job in 2024
💻 About 75% of knowledge workers globally are using generative AI, often without waiting for official company support.
🌐 The US, home to dominant platforms like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Meta's Llama, lags behind middle-income countries like India, Indonesia, and Brazil in gen-AI adoption.
⚡ This shift underscores how emerging markets are becoming early adopters and drivers of AI innovation, signaling a redistribution of digital leadership on the global stage.
Upskilling/Reskilling Intiatives
🚀 Nigeria Targets 5 Million AI-Trained Workers to Tackle $11B Skills Gap. The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched an ambitious plan to train 5 million workers in AI over the next three years through the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI). Backed by President Tinubu and Minister Bosun Tijani, the initiative aims to close a digital skills gap costing Nigeria $11B annually.
⚙️ Bogotá Launches 12,000+ Free Tech Courses with Certifications from Google, Microsoft, Meta, and more. In a major digital upskilling push, Bogotá City Hall has unveiled the “Bogotá Digital Capital” strategy, supported by Google, Microsoft, Meta, IBM, AWS, and global universities. The courses last two months and offer international certifications, expanding tech career prospects locally and globally.
💻 Google Canada Invests $5M in AI Education via Amii-Led National Consortium. This nationwide AI education initiative will develop adaptable AI curriculum resources to reach 125,000 students, including Indigenous and polytechnic institutions across 25 Canadian post-secondary institutions. While Canada leads in AI research, adoption lags; this program aims to close that gap and equip students for AI-powered jobs.
☁️ Alibaba Cloud is teaming up with Mapúa University to deliver advanced training in AI and cloud computing. Under the Alibaba Cloud Academic Empowerment Program (AAEP), students and faculty gain access to industry-aligned courses, labs, and certifications, supporting the Philippines’ National AI Strategy (NAIS Ph). The initiative ensures graduates are future-ready and helps bridge the academic-industry skills gap in the country's growing digital economy.
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