Apple has announced a significant expansion of its educational and skill-building programs across its supply chain in India. The initiative includes the launch of a new Apple Education Hub in Bengaluru and the introduction of a broader suite of development courses at over 25 supplier facilities nationwide.
The Apple Education Hub
Scheduled to begin offering courses in March, the Apple Education Hub is a first-of-its-kind facility in India. It operates in collaboration with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE).
The Hub is designed to function as a collaborative space connecting trainers and students with specialized educators. The initial curriculum will focus on digital literacy and Swift coding for beginners. Utilizing a “train-the-trainer” model, faculty from MAHE will instruct supplier trainers, who will subsequently deliver these sessions to larger groups of employees at their respective facilities.
Expansion at Supplier Sites
Beyond the Bengaluru Hub, Apple is increasing the availability of development courses directly at supplier sites. This expansion encompasses more than 25 locations across India.
Starting with Tata Electronics, the updated curriculum aims to develop specific technical competencies among supplier employees. Key focus areas include: Digital literacy, Swift coding, Robotics, Automation technology and Smart manufacturing.
These educational efforts are supported by Apple’s global $50 million Supplier Employee Development Fund. Currently, Apple and its partners offer more than 75 different courses to supplier employees within the region.
Focus on Robotics and Rights
Following a pilot robotics training program launched in December 2024, Apple plans to expand this specific offering to additional sites throughout the year. This program qualifies factory educators through hands-on learning at robotics labs, allowing them to customize curricula and conduct training sessions at their own facilities.
In addition to technical skills, the company is continuing its engagement with international organizations to provide rights awareness training. These programs are designed to ensure workplace environments where workers are treated with dignity and respect.
Vocational Education and Inclusion
Apple is also scaling its Vocational Education for Persons with Disabilities program in India. Building on a long-standing partnership with the local nonprofit Enable India, the program recently launched with supplier Salcomp.
The initiative focuses on providing employment and professional development opportunities within the supply chain for persons with disabilities, while simultaneously improving accessibility, safety, and inclusivity practices at supplier factories. Globally, this program has reached more than 18,000 supplier employees to date.
Commenting on this, Sarah Chandler, Apple’s vice president of Environment and Supply Chain Innovation, said:
The same spirit of innovation that drives our products also guides our commitment to supporting people across our global supply chain. We’re thrilled to expand our technical training courses in India, giving thousands of employees the opportunity to learn valuable new skills and explore new paths for career growth.
Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M.D. Venkatesh, vice chancellor at MAHE, said:
This collaboration brings together Apple’s commitment to its supplier employees and Manipal’s experience in applied education to create meaningful opportunities for growth. Supplier communities sit at the heart of India’s manufacturing ecosystem, and investing in their skills is more important than ever.