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9th May 2023, Islamabad, Pakistan-After launching Google Career Certificates (GCC) in October last year, Google announced it would commit a total of 44,500 new GCC scholarships by the end of 2023, to more Pakistanis wanting to gain access to in-demand digital skills.
Building on its previous commitment to help create Future Forward Pakistan, Google adds 3 additional courses – Business Intelligence, Advanced Data Analytics, and
Cybersecurity – to its Career Certificates program to help Pakistani women and young graduates earn employer-recognized certificates as a way to realize their career
ambitions. The effort is in partnership with IRM and TechValley.
A new study launched today by the Economist supported by Google shows that more support is needed to get the most out of Pakistan’s digital workforce. The country
needs in-demand digital skills to ensure Pakistan remains competitive in both the local and global markets.
The study also shows that Digital skillss are becoming increasingly important: As digital skills become increasingly important, employers’ role will be crucial in providing information about and access to upskilling programs to their existing workforce. More than half of employees (57.3%) consider digital skills the most important to
acquire, and 81% of employees agree that digital skills have also helped them gain confidence and improve in other areas like communication, analysis, and critical
thinking. Soft skills are pervasive across different sectors and roles: Communication and adaptability will be key differentiators for workers to learn due to their wide
applicability across diverse job roles and industries. 47% of employees consider soft skills as an important area for upskilling, 71.4% consider adaptability and flexibility
a high priority and 81.5% report communication as a “must-have” skill.
The government could facilitate a conducive ecosystem: By collaborating closely with companies, organizations, and communities, the government can help provide
more equal access to skilling for example through incentives and supportive policies. According to the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, unemployment
rates are higher than average among women and youth -31% of the total unemployed are youth, of which women make up 51%. Through initiatives such as Google
Career Certificates and scholarships, Google helps create more equal opportunities for people from different groups and backgrounds to gain access to digital skills
and job opportunities.
Farhan Qureshi, Country Director Pakistan, Google, shared “Google is committed to helping build an inclusive digital economy in Pakistan through its programs,
products, and services, and to invest in equipping Pakistani talent with the digital skills needed to grow and succeed. As the number 3 freelance economy in the world,
digital skills are highly sought after in Pakistan. Our goal is to enable Pakistanis to seize that opportunity. We want to help people get qualifications online for jobs that
are in demand, high growth, and well paying. That’s why beyond the 6 courses we launched last year, today we’re adding 3 new courses and are committing to
distribute 45,500 Google Career Certificates to women and young graduates by the end of 2023.”
Attending today’s announcement event, Honourable Syed Amin Ul Haque, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication also added “We fully
support Google’s efforts to equip Pakistani talent with digital skills through the Google Career Certificate program 2.0. This initiative aligns with our vision of creating an
ecosystem that enables the potential of the digital economy and provides equal opportunity to all Pakistanis. We especially are appreciative of Google’s focus on
distributing 50% scholarships to women.”
Iqra Malik, a Data Analyst Freelancer and a recent GCC graduate in Data Analytics shared: “This course transformed my life by providing me with valuable new skills
that helped me excel in freelance work, support my family financially, and take on various projects for clients. It not only gave me financial stability but also a sense of
fulfillment and accomplishment.”
Saif Ullah (Lahore), a graduate in Digital Marketing said: “Completing the certificate had a significant impact on my life, both personally and professionally. It helped me
identify a clear roadmap for my future career path. I have been able to secure a job as a performance marketer in a software house and opened doors to income
generation through freelancing. I have also created accounts on Upwork and Fiverr to explore freelancing opportunities.”
In addition to the new scholarships and the 3 new courses, Google’s partners IRM and TechValley are launching a soft skills program for GCC graduates to create wellrounded professionals ready for the job market. The online program covers critical topics including Communication Skills, Personal Branding, Time Management, and
Critical Thinking. It will take 4 weeks to complete the program which also includes practical assignments and homework. The curriculum is designed by Google and will
be delivered by IRM and TechValley.
