Microsoft has announced its goal to enable one million Australians and New Zealanders to gain “the skills they need to thrive in the AI economy” by the end of 2026.
The scope of the new AI Skills Initiative ranges from “building AI systems to using the technology in everyday roles."
The initiative builds on Microsoft’s October 2023 commitment to help train 300,000 Australians with digital skills within two years, a target that it reports is on track to be achieved by early 2025.
It follows the launch of Microsoft’s AI Academy program in September 2024, after a pilot involving thousands of people in Australia and New Zealand, including from Australia Post, ASB Bank, Bank of Queensland, National Australia Bank and the Western Australian Government.
The AI Academy program aims to support development of AI skills for technical professionals (such as software developers and data scientists) and non-technical workers (such as business managers and administrative staff).
With its new AI Skills Initiative, Microsoft wants to work closely with government, business, education and not-for-profit partners to “ensure the training is relevant” and to help meet the one-million-person target.
It will partner with organisations that “understand learners’ needs and have the resources to provide training and assessment at scale”.
It cited its own global Work Trends Index which surveyed 31,000 knowledge workers in 31 countries and found that three quarters of respondents said they “wouldn’t hire someone without AI skills”.
Business training
In the private sector in Australia and New Zealand, Microsoft will extend access to existing training programs, including the AI Academy, which is delivered by Microsoft in partnership with Akkodis. That program has been trialled with “major enterprises” and has involved more than 10,000 people according Microsoft.
In the small and medium-sized busines segment, Microsoft is exploring industry partnerships, including with Business NSW and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
These SMB partnerships, plus other activities with nbn, aim to “engage more than 20,000 SMB business leaders and employees”.
Over 38,000 SMBs signed up for “microskills” offered by the Institute of Applied Technology – Digital (IATD), via short courses co-created by TAFE NSW, Macquarie University, UTS and Microsoft.
Public sector ambitions
In the public sector, Microsoft plans to work with national and state government agencies to “build AI awareness, skills and confidence within the public sector”.
Microsoft will work with the Victorian Government on “a range of initiatives focused on strategic engagement, AI, skills and cybersecurity.”
“Numerous” government agencies have rolled out Copilot, Microsoft reported.
Working with educators
Microsoft is working with K-12 school systems, and vocational and higher education institutions, on skills initiatives.
This includes assisting 12,500 educators at Brisbane Catholic Education adopt Microsoft 365 Copilot across the organisation’s more than 140 schools.
Microsoft talked up its goal of helping 175,000 people in education “build the skills they need for the future workforce”.
It aims to do this through programs such as AI Amplified, which is delivered by Year13 and co-funded by KPMG, and aims to help young people gain “the critical AI skills they need to thrive in an AI-enabled economy.” That program is expected to reach 50,000 young people over the next 12 months.
The IATD will provide “essential support” to businesses and those seeking to upskill or reskill in AI. It has received more than 180,000 enrolments.
In New Zealand, Microsoft will continue working with educational institutions such as Te Pūkenga to expand AI-related course materials.
Not-for-profit goals
Microsoft is partnering with Infoxchange to help not-for-profit leaders and employees in community organisations understand how to use AI at work to ‘create an impact”.
Through Infoxchange’s Digital Transformation Hub, the partnership aims to support more than 10,000 people over the next 12 months through e-learning, webinars, events and other activities.
This work will be complemented by ongoing programs such as Digital Sisters: AI for Good, a program supported by Telstra and delivered by the Good Things Foundation to support digitally excluded women, and Code; Without Barriers for female software developers.
Microsoft will also provide support through internal traineeships and its #10kWomen program, which is focused on helping women build technology skills in New Zealand.
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