Apple has announced a major expansion of its supplier employee training initiatives in India with the launch of a new Education Hub, reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to workforce development in the region. The initiative is designed to help supplier employees build advanced technical and digital skills that go beyond their daily job roles, improving career mobility and supporting India’s growing role in Apple’s global manufacturing ecosystem.
The new Education Hub is part of Apple’s broader strategy to strengthen its supplier network in India, where the company has significantly increased its manufacturing footprint in recent years. By investing in education and skill-building, Apple aims to ensure that workers across its supplier base are equipped to meet the evolving demands of modern manufacturing and digital innovation.
Apple’s New Education Hub in India
Apple has launched the Education Hub in collaboration with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE). According to a newsroom post from Apple, the hub will begin offering courses starting in March. It is designed as a dedicated learning space where trainers and students can engage directly with educators who specialize in digital literacy and Swift coding.
The Education Hub focuses on structured learning programmes that enable supplier employees to develop both foundational and advanced skills. These programmes are intended not only to improve on-the-job performance but also to open new career pathways for workers within the manufacturing and technology sectors.
Sarah Chandler, Vice President of Environment and Supply Chain Innovation at Apple, highlighted the importance of the initiative, stating, “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.”
Courses and Training Focus Areas
The training sessions will be conducted for large groups of employees, with faculty members from MAHE responsible for training supplier instructors. This “train-the-trainer” model allows Apple to scale its education efforts efficiently across its supplier network.
Beginning with Tata Electronics, the courses will be rolled out across more than 25 supplier sites throughout India. The Education Hub will focus on several key areas that are critical to the future of manufacturing and technology, including:
- Digital literacy
- Swift coding
- Robotics
- Automation technology
- Smart manufacturing
These focus areas reflect Apple’s emphasis on preparing supplier employees for increasingly automated and technology-driven production environments. By offering hands-on training in these fields, Apple aims to build a more adaptable and future-ready workforce.
The initiative is funded under Apple’s global $50 million Supplier Employee Development Fund, which supports education, skill development, and career advancement programmes for workers across Apple’s supply chain worldwide.
Expansion of Existing Training Programmes
With this latest expansion, Apple and its partners will offer more than 75 courses for supplier employees in India. This marks a significant increase in the scale and scope of Apple’s training efforts in the country.
Apple has already made progress in advanced skills training through earlier initiatives. In December 2024, the company introduced a robotics training programme for supplier employees. Following its early success, Apple plans to further scale this programme in 2026 by training factory educators at dedicated robotics labs. These educators will then be able to adapt and deliver customized robotics lessons at their respective facilities.
This approach ensures that training remains relevant to the specific needs of each supplier site while maintaining consistent quality and learning standards across the network.
Strengthening India’s Manufacturing Ecosystem
Apple’s expanded training initiatives come at a time when India is emerging as a key manufacturing hub for the global technology industry. By investing in education and skills development, Apple is not only strengthening its own supply chain but also contributing to the broader development of India’s manufacturing workforce.
The launch of the Education Hub underscores Apple’s long-term vision for sustainable supply chain growth—one that prioritizes people, skills, and innovation alongside production capacity. As Apple continues to expand its presence in India, initiatives like this are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future of high-tech manufacturing in the region.