- Apple has launched its first Education Hub for supplier employees in India in Bengaluru, in partnership with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education.
- The hub will offer training in digital literacy and Swift coding, with courses starting in March.
- The initiative is supported by Apple’s $50 million Supplier Employee Development Fund and includes programs focused on worker rights and inclusion.
Apple has launched a new Apple Education Hub in India to expand training and skill development for employees working across its supplier network. The facility is located in Bengaluru and has been developed in partnership with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE). Apple said the hub will begin offering courses in March.
The new hub is part of Apple’s global Supplier Employee Development Fund, a $50 million program that supports education, training, and career advancement for supplier employees worldwide.
Apple Education Hub in India to focus on digital and technical training
The Apple Education Hub in India will function as a centralized learning space for supplier employees and trainers. The initial curriculum will focus on digital literacy and Swift coding for beginners.
Faculty members from MAHE will train supplier instructors at the hub. These instructors will then conduct sessions at supplier facilities across India. Apple said this approach is designed to expand access to training while maintaining consistent teaching standards.
Sarah Chandler, Apple’s Vice President of Environment and Supply Chain Innovation, said workforce education plays a key role in the company’s supply chain strategy.
“The same spirit of innovation that drives our products also guides our commitment to supporting people across our global supply chain,” Chandler said. “We’re excited to expand technical training in India and help employees build skills that support long-term career growth.”
Training expansion across supplier facilities
In addition to the Bengaluru hub, Apple is expanding development programs at more than 25 supplier sites in India. The new curriculum will begin with Tata Electronics and will cover digital literacy, Swift coding, robotics, automation technologies, and smart manufacturing.
Apple said the expanded training reflects India’s growing role in its global manufacturing operations. The programs are intended to improve technical capabilities while increasing employability within the electronics manufacturing sector.
Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M.D. Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor of MAHE, said the collaboration combines industry needs with applied education.
“This partnership brings together Apple’s commitment to supplier employees and Manipal’s experience in applied education,” Venkatesh said. “Supplier communities are central to India’s manufacturing ecosystem, and skill development is critical to their future.”
Ongoing supplier programs
Apple currently offers more than 75 courses for supplier employees in India. These programs include technical training, professional development, health education, and rights awareness initiatives.
Following the launch of its robotics training program in December 2024, Apple plans to expand it to more sites in 2025. The program trains factory educators, who then teach robotics skills at their facilities.
Apple said it works with global groups to improve training on rights awareness. The company wants to make sure workers know workplace protections and are treated with dignity respect properly.
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Inclusion and accessibility initiatives
Apple is also expanding its Vocational Education for Persons with Disabilities program in India. The initiative recently launched with Salcomp and builds on Apple’s long-standing partnership with Enable India.
The company said the program has supported more than 18,000 supplier employees globally. It focuses on employment opportunities, professional development, and improvements to accessibility and safety at supplier facilities.
