NASSCOM Assessment test for BPO's

NEW DELHI: The Nasscom Assessment of Competence, (NAC) this is a capability assessment programme for employees for the BPO industry. The competence exam will be active from November this year.

According to Kiran Karnik, Nasscom President, they are expecting over a lakh people to be taking the NAC test in its first year. NAC will be launched in eight states - Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chandigarh, Maharastra, West Bengal, Kerala, Bihar and Sikkim by November.

Kiran Karnik told the media that the aim of NAC is to aim at the current talent shortage faced by the industry. He said, " The aim is to create a continuous pipeline of talent by 'transforming' workforce into an 'employable workforce'.

NASSCOM said that only 25 per cent of technical graduates and 10-15 per cent of college students are suitable for IT or BPO industry. NAC was completed in June this year and already six thousand candidates have taken the test in the selected states.

Moreover, it is estimated that by 2010, there could be a shortage of manpower by 500,000. The BPO industry might be facing a shortage by 3.5 lakh.

The Nasscom Assessment Competence is an online test wherein the aptitude of the candidate is tested which is set on various skills like listening, keyboard skills, verbal and writing ability, spoken English, office software usage, concentration, accuracy and analytical skills.

Karnik said that NAC will be conducted in the selected eight places and would be extended to thirty cities. He also added that NAC will help companies and governments is customising talent development programmes.

The NAC tests will be technically evaluated by a Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) instituted by NASSCOM and evaluate the statistical validity, robustness and reliability of the tests of each consortium. The inputs will then be incorporated in the final selection of the partner for NAC s national roll out. NASSCOM will set up an independent Governing Council that would help in overseeing NAC as a full fledged programme, which will act as the supreme authority in all matters concerning NAC, Karnik said.

Hewitt Associates is the Program Manager for the NAC and is responsible for designing and rolling out NAC on behalf of NASSCOM and Indian ITES-BPO players.

Hewitt Associates is the Program Manager for the NAC and is responsible for designing and rolling out NAC on behalf of NASSCOM and Indian ITES-BPO players.