Facebook launches online training hubs to strengthen Digital India initiative

Facebook is launching online training hubs in India aimed at helping small businesses and people grow by giving them the digital skills they need to compete in today's digital economy.

The social networking giant said that it plans to train more than half a million people in the country by 2020 through these online training hubs, which are being rolled out first in India and will provide digital skills and training for people in need of work, advise entrepreneurs how to get started and help existing businesses and nonprofits get the most out of the internet.

“We believe the best way to prepare India for a digital economy is by equipping people with the tools, knowledge, and skills they need to succeed. We want more people to be have the opportunity to build their skills, build a business or build something for their community — because investing in people can lead to incredible things,” said Ritesh Mehta, Head of Programs, Facebook, India & South Asia.

Facebook says it worked with local organizations, including Digital Vidya , EDII , DharmaLife and StartupIndia , to develop the learning curriculum, which is personalised to the individual's needs and available in English and Hindi on mobile.

The curriculum includes vital skills for digital skill seekers and tech entrepreneurs, including how to protect your ideas, how to hire, how to go about getting funding, what regulations and legal hurdles you need to consider, how to build an online reputation, and a whole host of other critical skills required to succeed in today's digital world.

The training hubs have been divided under two categories- Facebook Digital Training Hub and Facebook Startup Training Hub. While the former will provide free social and content marketing training (not just Facebook) for anyone - from students to business owners - who is looking to develop their digital knowledge and skills, the latter is for developers and tech startups to help them build better products and businesses.

Facebook says it will continue to add lessons and content in the coming months, adapting the curriculum based on people's feedback.