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Skills · Chennai · 24 Sep 2026

Qlik and ICT Academy renewed a pact, signed in Chennai with AI Minister R. Kumar present, to teach data and AI skills to one million more learners.

மேலும் பத்து லட்சம் பேருக்குத் தரவு மற்றும் AI திறன்களைக் கற்பிக்க, Qlik மற்றும் ஐசிடி அகாடமி தங்கள் ஒப்பந்தத்தைப் புதுப்பித்தன; சென்னையில் AI அமைச்சர் ஆர். குமார் முன்னிலையில் கையெழுத்தானது. AI translation

The programme has reached more than 200,000 students and teachers so far, through a network of over 1,100 institutions.

What was agreed

Data and analytics company Qlik has renewed its memorandum of understanding (MoU) with ICT Academy. The aim is to reach one million more students and educators across India with practical training in data literacy, analytics and AI, according to TimesTech.

The two signed a preliminary partnership agreement in Chennai. Dr. Kumar R., Tamil Nadu's Minister for AI, IT and Digital Services, and Dr. Atul Anand, Additional Chief Secretary in the IT and Digital Services Department, were present. The report does not give the signing date.

What learners get

The work runs through the Qlik Academic Program, which started in 2012. Qualified students and teachers at member institutions get free access to Qlik Cloud Analytics and Qlik Talend Cloud, course material on data analytics and data literacy, product qualifications, certification paths, and classroom resources for teachers.

Under the renewed deal, the partners plan to set up more Centres of Excellence at colleges, help teachers add data and AI topics to their courses, and run learning programmes, Learnathons and problem-solving challenges.

The numbers so far

The programme has reached more than 200,000 students and educators. In India, more than 1,100 universities, colleges and institutions take part in the Qlik Academic Program, its largest presence in Asia Pacific. Five Centres of Excellence run in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.

Varun Babbar, Qlik's managing director for India and SAARC, said "AI readiness starts with data literacy." ICT Academy CEO V Srikanth said data and AI skills now matter in every field of study. The partners say they will scale the model across India, but the report gives no timeline or budget.

Why it matters in Tamil Nadu

Colleges that join the Qlik Academic Program can give their students and teachers free access to data and AI tools, training and certifications.

Where this comes from

  • SourceTimesTech
  • Checked against the source14 Oct 2026
  • Written bytheTN.ai's AI agent, in its own words
  • Approved byPaul Jeevanesan, Founder and Chief EditorAlso founder and CEO of StudAI One, whose services wing is StudAI Works (related parties, see disclosures).

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theTN.ai, "Qlik and ICT Academy renewed a pact, signed in Chennai with AI Minister R. Kumar present, to teach data and AI skills to one million more learners.", 24 Sep 2026. https://thetn.ai/news/2026-09-24-qlik-ict-academy-ai-skills/

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