Microsoft and Ed4All Partner with NIOS to Make Learners Job-ready

Microsoft and Ed4All announced a partnership with the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to transform learning and empower students with digital skills. Through this partnership, Microsoft and Ed4All aim to reach over 170 million learners across the open schooling ecosystem, providing access to tools, experiences, and skills needed to be job-ready in a digital economy.

Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, commenting on the launch of the NIOS Virtual Open School said: "Education is not a competition to acquire degrees, but a transformative tool. The government is working to ensure that internet reaches village schools across the country. NIOS Virtual School is a new model of learning and is an example how leveraging technology and innovation can facilitate greater inclusion in education. The school will provide advanced digital learning platforms through virtual live classrooms and virtual labs.”

As part of this collaboration, Microsoft and Ed4All have launched a customized tech platform for the NIOS Virtual Open School, BLEAP for NIOS, that provides learners a personalized learning experience for improved learning outcomes. BLEAP for NIOS brings together live classes and labs, recorded sessions, remote proctored exams and assessments along with skill-based courses and certifications to provide a holistic learning experience. Students across NIOS will also have access to digital courses on technologies like artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cyber security and data sciences among others.

Designed to create a better classroom experience that enables student success, the platform will provide easy-to-consume modules including live demos, hands-on workshops and assignments. BLEAP for NIOS is built on the Microsoft stack of Teams, MS365 and Azure, with security at the core.

Navtez Bal, executive director, public sector, Microsoft India, said: “Technology is playing a bigger role than ever in transforming education, improving learning outcomes and better preparing students for the new world of work. Our partnership with NIOS to empower over 170 million learners across the country is an important step in ensuring equity in education and skilling. As we rapidly move towards a digital economy, the skills of the future will look very different from the skills that are needed today. Along with Ed4All, we are committed to providing access to the technology, skills, and resources that students need to succeed in a digital world.”