Lending quality to computer education

Edutech Informatics is part of the Singapore-based Informatics Group which is one of Asia8217;s leading players in the field of computer education and training. Informatics has a presence in 26 countries across the globe. More than 40 leading universities in the US, the UK and Australia have granted recognition to the IT education courses designed and run by the group.

Edutech Informatics sees a huge potential in the Indian IT training sector. According to Pradeep Tripathi, MD and CEO of the company, 8220;The Indian IT industry is expected to spawn over 1 million new jobs by the turn of the century.8221;

8220;It is our endeavour to create a cadre of high-quality IT professionals who will serve the leading domestic and multinational IT companies,8221; he says.

Tripathi points out that bulk of the IT companies recruit engineering graduates 8220;who are not an automatic fit8221;. 8220;They need to be trained forspecific areas in the IT industry,8221; he says.

Edutech Informatics is introducing a range of programmes that will meet the specific training needs of both entry-level and mid-career IT professionals. Most of these programmes are benchmarked to international quality standards. Says Swapan Dutta, chief operating officer of the company, 8220;Our origins in one of the world8217;s leading IT powerhouses, Singapore, our dynamic Ramp;D efforts, our wealth of experience drawn from operations in 26 countries and consequently our keen understanding of the requirements of industry across the world will help us shape our deliverables to meet the emergent needs of the aspiring Indian IT professional.8221;

Edutech Informatics is clear that it will be just another stop-gap arrangement for students who are not finding employment. According NS Rajan, general manager HR and corporate communications, the company has laid down specific criteria for the selection of students. 8220;Our counsellors are told not to induct students who will notmeet the stringent requirements of the IT industry,8221; says he.

8220;How can you write poetry when you haven8217;t learnt the alphabets,8221; he asks.8220;It is indeed lack of quality training that is placing many computer graduates in mere data-entry jobs,8221; says Dutta.

8220;Take the example of the vast number of ERP training centres that have mushroomed in India. Most of them admitted students who have absolutely no domain knowledge. These students after completing the course really struggled to find jobs,8221; says Rajan.

Edutech Informatics is clear that it will not compromise on the basic tenets of education. Once admitted to a programme, the institute will ensure that students get 8220;quality time with the faculty. We admit 12-14 students per class. Everybody has access to computers, physical and virtual library,8221; says Rajan.

The new centre at Delhi houses four state-of-the-art computer laboratories, classrooms and several dedicated student counselling areas. This centre will function as the backbone for thecompany8217;s forays into Ramp;D, total quality, training of faculty and new product launches.

Edutech Informatics is also planning to set up an Education Council that will look into the course curriculum development on the lines of changing industry needs. The board will comprise prominent computer education professionals, industry leaders and members of Edutech Informatics8217; senior management team.

The institute is planning to set up a proper curriculum for training the trainers8217;. This is probably the weakest link in the IT education sector.Tripathi and his team are have set themselves challenging tasks. 8220;Edutech Informatics aims to be a leader in IT education in India by the year 2003. By then we would have set up more than 350 training centres in the country,8221; says Tripathi.

Edutech Informatics has an impressive pedigree. Its parent company Informatics is an ISO-9001 awardee and has been rated amongst the World8217;s Best Managed Companies, outside the US, by Forbes.

World managers andinterpreneurs

Edutech Informatics is offering a range of high quality programmes to create a new breed of globally competent managers and interpreneurs8217;. Following some of the key programmes on offer:

Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer MCSE: This 30-day programme is designed to provide the students a good grip over Microsoft products and technologies. Microsoft examinations and corresponding certificates are developed to validate the participants8217; mastery of critical competencies for designing, developing and implementing support solutions with Microsoft products and technologies. Candidates with knowledge of at least one programming language and an operating system are eligible to enrol for the programme. MCSEs are qualified to plan, implement, maintain and support information systems with Microsoft Windows NT operating system and the Microsoft Backoffice integrated family of server software.

Informatics Certified Internet Professional ICIP: This is a 150-hour programmeopen to both full-time and part-time students. Students with knowledge of any one programming language and any one operating system are eligible for the programme.

Advanced Diploma in Computer Studies ADCS: This is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time programme. ADCS is designed to develop the students8217; skills in problem identification, analysis and solution for information processing systems, and to enable them to understand those aspects of computer architecture that affect the design of computer-based systems. The eligibility criteria is a diploma in computer studies or a one-year certificate course from a recognised computer institute or a science or management graduate degree with some computing background. However, candidates will have to pass an entrance test to become eligible for the course.

Informatics Certified Software Developer ICSD: The course structure encompasses OOPS with C, Oracle, Oracle Forms, Oracle Database Administration, Visual Basic and Visual C.Candidates with knowledge of at least one programming language and an operating system can opt for this course, either as a full-time student for 6 months, or as a part-time student for 10 months.