Oracle Academy introduced to 100 Polytechnics in Karnataka

Bangalore, Dec 21 (UNI) Global software major Oracle India Private Ltd has come out with a 5.4 million dollars grant in kind to enable polytechnic students in Karnataka gain employable skills.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to introduce Oracle Academy programme to 100 polytechnic institutions in the State was signed here today by Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) Director Prof Mohammad Ali, Board of IT Education Standards (BITES) Dr Natarajan and Oracle India Managing Director Krishan Dhawan, in the presence of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

Under the MoU, the polytechnics would be provided state-of-the-art curriculum, software and professional development over the next two years, offering students technology and business skills required for 21st century careers.

The MoU further extended the reach and impact of the Oracle Academy in India, touching more than 30,000 students from over 200 educational institutions. Besides, it would raise Oracle's total in-kind software grants to higher education institutions in India to 255 million Dollars.

Earlier, Mr Dhawan said that in the present day education, skill gap existed between the needs of the industry and the curriculum.

''The right kind of education is needed to make the students employable immediately after they finish their course. It is an effort by the Oracle to help the student gain employable skills...The Academy provides students with working knowledge of IT and allows them to practice in the widely used, world class Oracle software.'' Prof Ali said ''through its network of polytechnics, DTE was committed to provide quality and need based technical education.

Using the latest Oracle database online learning technology and the Oracle Academy curriculum, students gain valuable technical and conceptual skills that apply to a variety of careers.'' He said that initially 50 performing polytechnics have been identified for implementation and the selected lecturers, one each from these polytechnics, have undergone training and the final training would be from January 22 in which top officials of Oracle would take classes. After the training and subsequent examination, Oracle global certificate would be given to successful candidates.

Welcoming the initiative, Mr Kumaraswamy opined that implementation of the programme would increase the capability of students coming out of polytechnics.

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