Google India has partnered IT training institute, NIIT Limited, to launch a training program named Google Web Academy, focusing on digital skills. Under the initiative, NIIT will offer specialized courses that will deploy Google technologies to train students and professionals on capitalizing the online digital market. Students and professionals will receive a joint certification from NIIT and Google after the completion of the course. The program will be first offered in India, followed by other markets. The courses offered by NIIT under the Google Web Academy program will include certification programs for online professionals covering topics like search engine marketing, optimizing online presence with web analytics; enhance business productivity with Google products and technologies. Subsequently, the program will also offer technical courses for IT professionals and developers covering topics like building new web and mobile applications using Google technologies, integration across Google products and 3rd party APIs, Web optimization -- bandwidth & loading performance, Introduction to cloud computing, including web standards, System integrator -- Google Apps for Business, including configuration, deployment and management and Performance tracking & monetization (Google Analytics, SEM). Apart from that, participants will also receive free exam voucher for the 'Google – Web Academy Qualified Online Professional certification and Rs.2500 worth of Google Adwords vouchers. While Google's already been targeting the SME segment, in India, it appears that the program is an attempt by the search giant to consolidate its position in the market, as the course will impart training on its products, treating them as a web standard.
