Press Release: Bhutan NDI to Provide Technical Training Aimed at Closing Skills Gap in the Nation

Bhutan NDI is pleased to announce the NDI Xcelerator Program—a paid technical training program on Bhutan NDI’s core product Ngotag and Verifiable Credentials in Digital Identity Wallet, focusing on building technical expertise in the field of blockchain-based decentralized identity. To provide trainees with hands-on learning experience and demonstrate their readiness for the workforce, a capstone project will run in parallel with the course modules. This practical project will require trainees to build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) using the NDI Wallet SDK, incorporating credential issuance, verification, and exchange.

The training has been driven by the following goals:

• Address Technical Skill Gaps: Build technical capacity in Bhutan by equipping participants with in-demand skills across critical IT domains to reduce dependency on foreign workers and consultants.
• Develop a Skilled Workforce: Create a robust talent pipeline by training participants in specialized technical skills specific for decentralized and Self Sovereign Identity (SSI).
• Enhance Practical Competence: Provide hands-on learning experience to enable participants to apply theoretical knowledge to solve real-world problems.
• Support Retention and Local Expertise: Mitigate attrition challenges by fostering local expertise, reducing the reliance on external talent, and promoting workforce stability in Bhutan's IT sector.
• Promote Industry Readiness: Prepare trainees for immediate entry into the workforce with job-ready emerging technical skills and practical project experience aligned with industry standards.

There’s a growing need to build technical capacity in Bhutan, aggravated by massive attrition and growing dependency on foreign workers. To fill the skills gap and create a robust talent pipeline, the NDI Xcelerator Program will run between May 8 to June 6, 2025. The applications for the training program opened on April 15, 2024, and is open to fresh graduates and professionals with background in ICT or related fields. Bhutan NDI will shortlist 20 applicants who will then be enrolled for a month-long paid training program, with a stipend of Nu. 12,000. The program also presents post-training recruitment opportunity at Bhutan NDI.

Bhutan National Digital Identity (NDI has been conceptualized as the foundation for the country's digital economy, facilitating trusted digital interactions between individuals and organizations. Built on decentralized blockchain technology, Bhutan NDI accelerates seamless access to government, business, and financial services by building a digital ecosystem rooted in trust and security. In 2023, Bhutan became the first country in the world to roll out a self-sovereign identity (SSI)-based digital identity system at a national scale designed around a comprehensive decentralized identity framework. His Royal Highness, The Gyalsey became the first digital citizen of the nation in a significant milestone, representing a major step forward in the country's vision for a secure and trust-driven digital ecosystem. The NDI Xcelerator Program ultimately seeks to build this robust digital ecosystem wherein multi-layered stakeholders can participate in and benefit from.

Apply for the program here: https://forms.gle/VGxbpv9RKwTMaBSQ9