Apple Launches Education Hub to Empower Factory Workers Across India
Apple has unveiled a new Education Hub in Bengaluru, India, designed to enhance the skills of individuals employed throughout its supply chain. This initiative consolidates Apple’s training programs into a single facility, offering factory workers the opportunity to acquire digital skills, learn Swift programming, and become proficient with modern manufacturing tools. Scheduled to commence classes in March, the hub aims to foster long-term career development for thousands of supplier employees nationwide.
The establishment of this center marks Apple’s first educational facility of its kind in India. Developed in collaboration with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), the hub will feature MAHE faculty leading courses in digital literacy and Swift programming. Additionally, these educators will train local instructors, enabling them to conduct classes within their respective factories.
Sarah Chandler, Apple’s Vice President of Environment and Supply Chain Innovation, emphasized that the program embodies the same philosophy that guides Apple’s product development. She expressed enthusiasm about expanding technical training courses in India, providing workers with opportunities to acquire valuable new skills and explore diverse career growth paths.
Nationwide Skills Development Initiative
Beyond the Bengaluru hub, Apple is broadening its training efforts across more than 25 supplier sites throughout India. The new courses, beginning with Tata Electronics, encompass digital literacy, Swift coding, robotics, automation technology, and smart manufacturing. This program is funded through Apple’s global $50 million Supplier Employee Development Fund, dedicated to supporting education across its supply chain.
These initiatives build upon over 75 existing programs that Apple operates in India, covering technical skills, professional development, health education, and rights awareness to ensure workers understand workplace standards and protections.
Apple also plans to expand its robotics education program, which commenced in India in December 2024. The company trains factory instructors in robotics labs, who then return to their facilities to lead hands-on classes.
Furthermore, Apple is extending its Vocational Education for Persons with Disabilities program in India. Launched in partnership with Salcomp and executed with Enable India, this initiative has already benefited over 18,000 workers worldwide, focusing on employment, training, safety, and accessibility within Apple’s supplier factories.
