The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Indian companies lack quality manpower: V-C

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 04, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Indian companies lack quality manpower: V-C

Staff Reporter

— Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

Options overseas: A candidate discusses opportunities abroad with the representative of a foreign university at a fair in Chennai on Friday.

Chennai: Companies in India are facing a shortage of quality manpower and compelled to look abroad for candidates, Madras University Vice-Chancellor S. Ramachandran said here on Friday.

Making a strong case for improvement of standards in educational institutions, Mr. Ramachandran called for better infrastructure, quality of courses and freedom and flexibility for students to choose courses.

“There are 10,000 candidates from the U.S. and the U.K. working for companies in Chennai. The firms say they would like to employ Indian candidates but are unable to find quality manpower,” he said, at the inauguration of an international education fair here.

Mr. Ramachandran said regular interactions with members of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and heads of multinational companies had revealed that qualified middle-level executives were in great demand. Educational institutions must equip students with skills that would get them well-placed, he said.

C. Robin, Director of Legal Studies, Tamil Nadu, said universities could even play the role of policy making for a nation if they prepared themselves well. He hoped that the State would get a national law school as part of the Centre’s proposal to set up more such schools.

Rajalakshmi Engineering College Chairperson Thangam Meganathan encouraged students who went abroad for education to return to work in India and boost its vibrant economy.

The educational fair is being organised by the Association of Accredited Advisors on Overseas Education at Hotel Park Sheraton. Association president C.B. Paul Chellakumar said international universities from the U.K., U.S., Singapore, Australia, France, Malaysia, Dubai, Canada and Hungary have set up stalls. Candidates can visit the fair from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Entry is free.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu