The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : ‘Industry-readiness’ begins right at school

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Thursday, Aug 14, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

‘Industry-readiness’ begins right at school

Meera Srinivasan

Top IT firms have programmes to nurture schoolchildren

“Course designed by TCS is a blend of technical learning and soft skills development”
“Under Infosys programme, students undergo training in software development concepts”

CHENNAI: At a time when most sections in the industry and academia are emphasising the importance of language, communications and soft skills in students, some leading companies are targeting their future recruits right at school.

Attempts to train students at the collegiate level are, in many cases, proving to be futile as it is too late, say human resources professionals. Making children aware when they are in high school is a lot easier, they add.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), for instance, started their ‘InsighT’ programme in 2006. Primarily targeted at students from class XI, the initiative is aimed at providing an overview of skills required in the IT industry.

Thomas Simon, vice-president, HR, says: “The course designed by TCS is a blend of technical learning and soft skills development. It is closely aligned to the Board curriculum. Communication, presentation skills, interview skills, personal grooming and etiquette are among the aspects covered.”

The faculty comprises two associates of TCS, one, an expert in technical skills and the other, in soft skills. At the end of the course, students make presentations on a project they have worked on during the course. Best teams are awarded prizes based on parameters such as technical skills, innovation, teamwork and presentation skills.

Developing software application

Infosys, through its ‘Catch them young’ programme is working with high school students across the country. Students undergo intensive training on basic software development concepts, besides being given an opportunity to work in teams to develop a software application in their area of interest.

Students are selected to participate in this programme through a test administered at any local Infosys Development Centre, after which they undergo formal training in basic software development concepts. Educators from the company work with these students helping them create a software application in a step-by-step manner.

Addressing teachers, students

Interestingly, Intel has been working on a large scale with not just school students, but also teachers. Through ‘Intel Teach’, a programme for teachers, the company has trained nearly nine lakh teachers across the country to impart technology-aided education. The company has also been working with the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) wing of the Tamil Nadu government’s School Education Department.

“The response from teachers, students and school heads has been very encouraging. But the success of such initiatives are really in their sustenance,” says Rahul Bedi, Director, Corporate Affairs (South Asia).

To implement ‘Intel Learn’, an initiative targeted at students, the company has collaborated with the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti. “We help students hone their skills in aspects like team work. We give them opportunities to learn from different projects. Some of these are community-related projects and children attempt finding solutions to different challenges. In the process, they develop several skills,” Mr. Bedi said.

Intervention at one level will not do. Sustained effort targeted at different levels of the academic machinery is what will make a difference in the long run, industry experts noted.

Teachers’ role

Many leading city schools are partners in such initiatives of corporates. The increasing participation of corporates is welcome, educationists said. All the same, while acknowledging the relevance of these projects, they feel training and re-orienting teachers is vital in the context of strengthening students’ skills.

Girija Seshadri, Principal, Jaigopal Garodia Hindu Vidyalaya says: “Teachers can strike an instant rapport with the students. While stressing on the importance of communication and language skills, we ought to remember that teachers play a major role in this exercise.”

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