Apple on Wednesday announced an expansion of its skill development and training programmes for employees across its supplier network. The Cupertino-based tech giant said the move is part of its long-term strategy to strengthen workforce development in regions where it has a strong manufacturing presence.
As part of this initiative, Apple has also launched a new education hub in India. The centre aims to provide supplier employees with accessible training programmes that help them build new technical skills beyond their everyday roles.
Learning Centre Launched With Academic Collaboration
According to Apple, the education hub has been set up in partnership with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), with courses scheduled to begin in March. The company said the centre will function as a modern learning space where trainers and students can receive direct instruction from educators specialising in digital literacy and Swift programming.
Sarah Chandler, Apple’s Vice President of Environment and Supply Chain Innovation, said,
“We are pleased to expand our technical training programmes in India. This will allow thousands of employees to gain valuable skills and explore new opportunities for career growth.”
Training to Reach Over 25 Sites Nationwide
Faculty members from MAHE will first train supplier instructors, who will then conduct sessions for large groups of employees. Starting with Tata Electronics, the initiative will roll out across more than 25 supplier sites nationwide.
Apple said the courses will cover modern subjects such as digital literacy, Swift coding, robotics, automation technology, and smart manufacturing.
Linked to Apple’s $50 Million Supplier Development Fund
The company said the new training programmes are part of its global $50 million Supplier Employee Development Fund. Following this expansion, Apple and its partners now offer more than 75 training courses for supplier employees in India.
Apple also highlighted its robotics training programme, which it launched in India in December 2024. After an encouraging initial response, the company plans to expand the programme further this year. Under the initiative, trainers will be prepared at factory-based robotics labs and will deliver customised training sessions at their respective manufacturing facilities.