Kerala - Alappuzha   

Introduce industry-relevant education: Infosys chief

ALAPPUZHA: Kerala would have to bring about qualitative changes to its educational curriculum and introduce industry-relevant education to achieve progress in the field of information technology, Infosys Chief Operating Officer and founder-director S.D. Shibulal has said.

Delivering a lecture on ‘Opportunities in New India’ at the Centenary Hall of the Sanathana Dharma Vidyashala, his alma mater, here on Saturday, Mr. Shibulal said the present curriculum here tended to be heavy on the theoretical side and was not industry-relevant.

The efforts of students and those who shaped the curriculum had to be towards a transformation in this aspect.

Pointing out that industry studies had indicated an employee requirement of 23 lakh by the year 2010, Mr. Shibulal said that even after taking into account the entire population of all professional colleges here, industries would fall short of employees by around five lakh.

Kerala, with its educated and young population, was in a position to take advantage of this situation, provided the right moves were made.

“The youngsters here will have to focus on improving soft skills, acquiring language and communication skills and have a mindset for continuous learning, which are lacking now.

These skills are extremely important in the global environment, and moreover, it is the responsibility of the individual to gain these skills.

Institutions can only provide the framework,” he said.

Talking to The Hindu later, Mr. Shibulal said Kerala would have to figure out its core competencies and focus on improving them.

High education levels, innovation and sustainability could be among these, he said, stating that the Government would have to provide infrastructure, improve educational quality by ensuring the same high standards for all institutions and also protect the environment.

Mr. Shibulal, who said his company was right now focused only on its upcoming centre at Thiruvananthapuram, said decision on further centres in India would be taken only after evaluations of all cities and the infrastructure each city could ensure.

The global crude oil prices and inflation rates did have an impact on the IT sector, particularly on the profits of firms like Infosys.

“Infosys, which is expecting an 18 to 21 per cent growth this fiscal, so far has not had to change plans based on the current situation.

The impact on profits can be managed and made up in other ways and we are doing that,” he added.

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