Infosys BPO in pact with Karnatak varsity

Bangalore, Apr 17: Taking forward its industry-academia initiatives, Infosys BPO, the business process outsourcing subsidiary of Infosys Technologies, today signed an MoU with the Karnatak University to enhance the quality of education and increase the employment opportunities of students across general education disciplines.

The programme, aimed at creating a strong foundation for the emerging knowledge economy in India, focused on aligning the needs of general colleges, faculty and students with the needs of the industry, thus preparing 'industry-ready' professionals, Infosys BPO CEO and MD Amitabh Chaudhry said after signing the MoU.

After Karnatak University, Infosys would sign MoUs with Kolhapur and Shivaji universities later this week.

Karnataka Higher Education Minister D H Shankaramurthy, who was present, said the Government saw science and technology as a key area for collaboration between industry and academia and would support such programmes.

''It is unfortunate that even after 60 years of independence, we have failed to frame proper guidelines as to what should be taught to our students in schools and what we should not. Our universities and teachers as well are not fully equipped to impact knowledge which would serve the students throughout their career,'' he rued.

Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murthy called for a change in the attitude of parents living in smaller cities in upbringing their girl child. Youth in smaller cities were intelligent and hardworking, but did not get better job opportunities, mainly because of lack of communication skills. ''Hard work and smart work are different. We have to become smart and work hard,'' she told the students of the varsity.

She said it was important to provide more employment to women.

''In a society, if women are not given enough employment, 50 per cent of potential for growth will diminish,'' she felt.

Infosys BPO Chairman T V Mohandas Pai said youth passing out of college in general subjects lacked training to take up professional jobs and the MoU was aimed at providing this. ''The economy is growing at a faster rate and GDP at 8-9 per cent and we do not have enough suitably trained people for employment. The Government framework to prepare such talent is totally lacking. We have to give our youths skills and make them employable,'' he said.

He said Infosys BPO planned to train one lakh students throughout the country this year, of whom 20,000 would be absorbed by the company. ''Next year, it will be 50,000,'' he added.

UNI