Amazon India has formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to extend its Amazon WoW (Women of the World) initiative nationwide. This initiative is designed to equip female students in engineering colleges across India with essential skills for success in the technology industry. The agreement, signed by Suman Yadav, Director – Student Programs at Amazon, and Prof. T G Sitharam, Chairman of AICTE, Govt of India, underscores Amazon’s commitment to providing women with the necessary tools and knowledge to thrive in the constantly evolving tech landscape.
The Amazon WoW initiative offers a dynamic platform for female students to connect with the Amazon community, engage in immersive skill development sessions, and access a wealth of resources. Through this strategic collaboration with AICTE, the national apex body for technical education, Amazon aims to empower women students with the essential tools and knowledge required to navigate and succeed in the technology industry. The partnership reflects a shared vision between AICTE and Amazon India in nurturing talent for the tech sector, facilitating engagement with industry leaders, technologists, and like-minded peers, all while honing essential career-focused skills. The MoU signifies Amazon’s dedication to inspiring and empowering the next generation of female tech leaders and innovators in India.
“Amazon India is leveraging its industry expertise and technical prowess to support women empowerment in the country. Amazon WoW will be an invaluable program for women in engineering colleges across India. This initiative not only imparts essential skills, such as coding but also opens doors to invaluable opportunities for industry exposure and soft skill development to young women. It truly embodies the spirit of progress in AICTE’s pursuit of a more inclusive and dynamic tech landscape,” said Prof. T.G Sitharam, Chairman of AICTE, expressing his enthusiasm about the collaboration.
“I am elated to see this collaboration between Amazon and AICTE for the WoW program. AICTE being the umbrella body for all technical education institutions will allow Amazon India to sensitize and upskill future women leaders in tech in all corners of the country. We hope that through this initiative, women will not only gain skills that will help them tap job opportunities but that they will also be able to come together as a community that can continue to support each other in the future,” stated Chetan Krishnaswamy, Vice President of Public Policy at Amazon India.
‘’ We recognize the gap in our country’s talent landscape today, where students lack appropriate mentoring and skills essential for their careers. Amazon WoW bridges that gap by providing a structured path including mentorship and learning opportunities to women engineering students to make informed career choices. Our collaboration with AICTE will further support our efforts in democratizing access to knowledge enabling and empowering women students to build fulfilling tech careers,” said Suman Yadav, Director Student Programs, Amazon, highlighting the success of Amazon WoW program.
Since its establishment, Amazon WoW has attracted over 298,000 subscribers to its platform. The program has proven its effectiveness, with more than 900 women securing internships or full-time opportunities at Amazon. In the past year alone, over 40 sessions have been successfully conducted, drawing an average attendance of 300+ students per session. Workshops covering coding, problem-solving, tech interviews, and data structures and algorithms have equipped female students for their application and selection processes. Regular open office hours with senior Amazon employees offer students a chance to address queries and seek guidance in a personalized 1:1 setting.
Aligned with the shared goals of Amazon India and AICTE, this collaboration aims to optimize resource utilization, enhance skills, and encourage women in STEM towards tech careers. Beyond facilitating employment, the initiative empowers women to play a pivotal role in propelling India towards becoming a fully realized digital economy.
