Ignite has given the green light to DigiSkills 3.0, a massive expansion of their popular online training program. Chaired by Secretary IT Zarar Hashim, the Ignite-National Technology Fund board approved the initiative, which aims to equip three million young Pakistanis with in-demand digital skills.
Building upon the success of DigiSkills 2.0 (which offered 15 courses), version 3.0 ups the ante with 25 free online courses, all designed to boost digital literacy and freelancing capabilities nationwide. The program is slated to run for three years and six months, backed by a budget of approximately Rs. 1.79 billion.
The expanded curriculum includes ten brand-new courses, covering hot topics like:
* UI/UX and Web Flow
* 3D Modeling
* Cloud Computing
* Shopify Development & Drop Shipping
* Artificial Intelligence using Python
* Mobile Game and App Development
* Full Stack Development with MERN
* Startup Strategies
* Entrepreneurship
These additions reflect the program’s commitment to staying ahead of the curve and providing relevant skills for the evolving digital landscape, helping individuals to work online and build their own start ups.
Since its inception in 2018, the DigiSkills program has already made a significant impact, training over four million individuals from 300 cities across Pakistan. A joint effort between Ignite and the Virtual University of Pakistan, DigiSkills has become a cornerstone in strengthening the country’s IT sector. The program prepares a skilled workforce ready to embrace technological advancements and navigate the global gig economy. Hosted on DigiSkills.pk, it’s recognized as Pakistan’s largest online training initiative, with certifications awarded through the Virtual University.
A major highlight of DigiSkills.pk is its dedication to women’s empowerment. Since 2018, over 800,000 female participants have benefited from the program’s training opportunities. DigiSkills is actively working to close the gender gap in digital employment by providing equal access to learning and empowering more women to join the freelancing and IT workforce.