Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board to provide digital skills training and opportunities for youth

PESHAWAR, AUGUST 13 th : The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board (KPITB) today announced that the application process for its integrated digital skills initiative—the “KP Youth Employment Program: Digital Skills for All”—has begun.

Residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa can apply for the program by visiting www.kpyep.com

“KP YEP: Digital Skills for All” builds on the success while also incorporates the lessons learned from an earlier program that trained over 4500 young people in the province on online freelancing platforms in 2016. Recognizing that the need for digital skills is rapidly evolving, and that Pakistan’s digital transformation will require innumerable digital skills, YEP has expanded its scope to focus on supporting digital skills more broadly, and to create an adaptable and flexible solution to the evolving needs for digital skills.

Courses are offered in modules that will help youth create customized learning pathways needed to access digital opportunities, both in Pakistan and internationally. There will be opportunities to attend in-person trainings, as well as access course content using an online learning management system platform. Courses will range from basic and introductory levels to advanced levels and create the building blocks of a digital education for the growing opportunities both internationally and in Pakistan. For example, for engineers there will be courses on Internet of Things device development; and for existing freelancers’ courses on Business Communication that could help them develop more effective and persuasive online profiles.

As Pakistan’s first digital skills platform, YEP offers the opportunity for qualified trainers, teachers and experts to offer customized courses through the YEP platform. Courses can be advertised to a wide range of youth interested in learning digital skills, and the location, timing, final participant list and cost can be determined by trainers. However, the first set of courses will be offered for free.

Dr. Shahbaz Khan, Managing Director of KPITB, said,

“As a former university professor myself, I know the challenges that our fresh graduates go through. And as the Managing Director of the IT Board, I firmly believe the digital economy has the potential to absorb many of these graduates and provide them decent paying work if they have the right skills. KP YEP is our effort to create the skilled workforce of the future and connect them to the jobs of the future”.

Applications will be open through September 14 th , as the IT Board wants to understand the initial set of demand for courses per district. Trainings are expected to commence in late September. The World Bank will be providing technical assistance to KPITB, under a broader digital development program: “Digital KP”—which is aimed at expanding internet access, developing digital skills, improving digital governance, and promoting the digital economy in the province. KP YEP is a key initiative under the skills and economy pillars.

For more information, please visit https://www.kpyep.com/faqs/