Key takeaways
- Cognizant targets upskilling two million individuals globally by 2030 through its Synapse initiative.
- The program surpassed its initial goal, reflecting urgent demand for digital skills amid AI advancements.
- Synapse addresses socio-economic barriers and fosters partnerships with governments and educational institutions.
- Cognizant plans to enhance learning resources and develop branded learning experiences for clients.
- CEO Ravi Kumar S emphasizes the need for a future-ready workforce amid looming job disruptions.
Cognizant has expanded its Synapse skilling initiative, announcing a new target to upskill two million individuals worldwide by the end of 2030.
The company claimed that the program, launched in 2023, has already surpassed its initial goal of reaching one million people by 2026, prompting it to double its commitment.
The move comes amid what Cognizant describes as an urgent need for large-scale digital skilling, driven by rapid advances in artificial intelligence.
Citing a Cognizant–Oxford Economics study, the company noted that 90% of jobs, from entry-level to executive roles, will face disruption from AI in the next decade, intensifying global demand for workforce readiness.
"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," CEO Ravi Kumar S said.
Synapse aims to address socio-economic, cultural, and language barriers while supporting jobseeker training, employee-led STEM initiatives, and partnerships with governments, academic institutions, non-profits, and industry leaders.
The company said it remains committed to the pillars outlined at the program’s launch: Skills Accelerator, Technology Partnerships, Apprenticeships, Community Education and Employee Skilling.
As part of the expanded effort, Cognizant plans to broaden several Synapse focus areas including learning and development resources by expanding its learning and development offerings.
The company said it aims to accelerate its investment in employee learning, develop partnerships with learning institutions, and offer learning tracks for client teams.
The company said it also intends to offer branded learning experiences that bring Cognizant's customised learning capabilities to client sites, learning institutions, and NGO partners.
For social impact, the IT company said it 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.
