Dot, IIT Establish IT Training Center for Visually Impaired

Venture 'Dot', a leader in innovative tactile display technology for the visually impaired, is partnering with India's prestigious National Institute of Technology Meghalaya (NIT Meghalaya) to launch an IT education revolution that will transform the future of visually impaired youth. Dot, alongside global partners including Oxford University researchers and the Foundation for Innovation in Health (FIH) India, took a significant first step by signing a multilateral memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a 'Professional IT Education and Employment Linkage Center for Visually Impaired Learners' at the Meghalaya campus. This collaboration focuses on combining Dot's unique technological capabilities with the expertise of world-class institutions to build a robust educational system that enables visually impaired youth in India to grow into IT professionals, who are key talents in the digital age. The 12-month 'Employment-Linked IT Certification Program', to be offered by the Centre for Socially Inclusive Education (SSCIE) under NIT Meghalaya, aims to train professionals in the IT and IT-enabled services (ITES) sectors for visually impaired youth who have completed high school or higher. The program consists of nine months of in-depth theoretical and practical classes, followed by three months of practical industry internship. All education will be conducted in English to enhance global competency. In the first year, 15 students are expected to participate with full scholarships, aligning with the core values of India's National Education Policy (NEP 2020), which emphasizes digital learning and inclusive education. This innovative program will be operated through organic global industry-academia-research collaboration. NIT Meghalaya will oversee the provision of educational infrastructure and curriculum development. Dot, as the technology partner, will generously support five state-of-the-art 'Dot Pads', which can tactually render complex visual information such as shapes and charts in addition to Braille, along with related software and technical training. Oxford University researchers, as knowledge partners, will be responsible for curriculum development and enhancement, drawing upon Dot's extensive global university initiatives. Furthermore, the Foundation for Innovation in Health (FIH) India, as the implementation partner, will provide overall educational operational know-how, covering student recruitment, internships, and employment linkage. Pinakeswar Mahanta, Director of NIT Meghalaya, expressed his anticipation, stating, "We will provide technical education to marginalized communities and build clear pathways that lead beyond training to actual jobs." Kamdasmru, a student participant in the program, after experiencing the 'Dot Pad', exclaimed, "It was amazing to understand complex concepts and images tactilely, and it will bring innovation particularly to learning mathematics and graphics." Kim Ju-yoon, CEO of Dot, expressed great pleasure that "Dot's technology contributes to unleashing the potential of visually impaired talents in India." He also declared a strong aspiration: "Using this partnership as a springboard, we will further accelerate the expansion of education and employment opportunities for visually impaired individuals worldwide."