How about a Nanodegree?

Google and the Tatas have come together to launch Android Nanodegree programmes in India.

With 3 million software developers, India is home to the second largest developer population in the world. It is expected that by 2018, this figure will surge to 4 million and India will have the largest developer population in the world.

However, to achieve this goal, India needs to enhance its skill set and educational programme. With a similar vision, Google and the Tata Trust have launched a programme that will offer Android Nanodegrees in India.

This programme is an education credential designed to help developers learn new skills and advance their careers in a few months, from anywhere, on any device and at their own pace.

The two organisations will also offer 1,000 scholarships to deserving students across the country, who wish to pursue the Android Nanodegrees.

Google instructors have not only developed the course, but they will also teach and mentor the students. The programme has been launched in association with Udacity, which will provide career services.

The curriculum will be updated regularly with new releases and will provide developers with certificates that will help them become more marketable Android developers.

Rajan Anandan, V-P & managing director, Google South East Asia & India, says, “While India has millions of software developers, we still lag behind in creating world class apps. With the launch of this programme, we will bridge the gap by providing India’s developer community easy access to learning and building high-quality apps for the world.”

Today, only two per cent of apps built in India feature among the top 1000 apps globally, and the programme aims to raise this to 10 per cent in the next three years.

Upon completion of the 6–9 month long programme, costing around Rs. 9,800 per month, Udacity will refund 50 percent of the tuition fee.

Google will also host a career summit for 30 of the top graduates from the Android Nanodegree programme, in Bangalore, by the end of the year.