Cognizant scales up Synapse initiative to train 2 million in tech skills by 2030
The coming years are predicted to see an unprecedented disruption to jobs, resulting from AI and automation. To help firms to offer training to employees of all kinds, Cognizant is scaling its Synapse skilling initiative in response, announcing a new target to upskill two million people globally by 2030.
"The expansion of our Synapse commitment marks a significant step toward building a more future-ready workforce. We are proud to have surpassed our initial goal ahead of schedule, a testament to the dedication of our teams and partners," said Ravi Kumar S, chief executive officer at Cognizant.
Synapse launched in 2023 and has already reached more than 1 million learners through apprenticeships, community programmes, technology partnerships and structured learning pathways. With Cognizant and Oxford Economics research forecasting AI and automation to disrupt 90% of jobs by 2032, that mission will now ramp up, in a bid to help the workforce prepare for an era of major change.
In the UK and Ireland, community education alone has supported more than 113,000 people through partnerships including helping 125 young people build confidence and digital skills with The King’s Trust, and supporting more than 700 jobseekers through technology-intensive bootcamps with Generation UK.
Cognizant is aiming to create a new standard for workforce readiness through the Synapse initiative. Synapse breaks down socio-economic, cultural, and language barriers and supports jobseeker skilling, employee-led STEM education, and strong partnerships with governments, academic institutions, non-profit and industry leaders.
Cognizant’s CEO added, "Our commitment is now to reach 2 million individuals by 2030, reflecting the essential role Cognizant plays in enabling people around the globe to thrive in the AI-powered age and participate in the prosperity that this digital transformation brings."
As part of the expanded commitment, Cognizant also intends to broaden some of the focus areas of Synapse. This includes expanding its learning and development offerings, Cognizant aims to accelerate its investment in employee learning, develop partnerships with learning institutions, and offer learning tracks for client teams. And Cognizant also aims to expand its distribution of philanthropic funds to NGOs that align to the mission of Synapse as well as design and host learning and development programs that benefit the communities where Cognizant operates.
Meanwhile, Cognizant is increasing access to more than 1,000 AI training and certification offerings and 240 AI learning pathways, supported by partners including Google, Microsoft, AWS, Salesforce, SAP and Oracle.
