AP's skill centres to train students in app building

In a first of its kind programme, Andhra Pradesh will launch 17 skill development centres in the state where school and college students will be able to take part in developing smartphone applications, popularly called apps. 

While Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will launch the skill development centre in Vijayawada on Monday, the rest of the centres will be launched electronically. Initiated a month ago, the programme has so far enrolled over 650 students from 98 colleges who have developed nearly 3,000 smartphone apps used for both utility and business purposes. 

The state government would eventually put some of the apps to use in its e-governance initiative. 

Part of the government’s initiative to give budding entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to lead the world in innovation, the skill development centres –which are part of the AP State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC)—have roped in app developers from software giants like Microsoft to train the students. 

APSSDC’s CEO Ganta Subbarao said mobile apps have changed the way people interact with brands and offer a great opportunity for innovators. “This programme (by the AP government) would bring out the hidden talents of our students, who are brimming with great energy and enthusiasm,” he said.  

Since the programme is scalable, APSSDC is aiming to train 5,000 students by April-May and 20,000 by August-September.