HCL ventures into academics, opens first CDC in Kolkata

Kolkata, Mar 29 (UNI) HCL Infosystems Ltd, India's leading company in IT and ITES sector, today opened its first Career Development Centre (CDC) here to create skilled IT professionals in the country.

HCL has ventured into opening of CDCs nationwide with an objective to meet the increasing demand of skilled resources in the sectors.

Talking to newspersons, HCL Infosystems Executive Vice-President Rajendra Kumar said since India is emerging as the leading IT country in the global market, but it lacks high-skilled ICT engineers.

Taking a cue from a NASSCOM report, he said by 2010 there would be a potential shortage of five lacs ICT professionals and added that the HCL CDCs would be training the employable youth to overcome the crisis.

Mr Kumar said the company also aims to make the state among top three IT states.

Initially, about 10 CDCs would be opened in the state, mainly in the district headquarters including Siliguri, Durgapur, Kharagpur and Haldia and later about 100 such centres would come up across the country, Mr Kumar said.

The Kolkata-based CDC would be run and operated by the HCL directly, whereas, the other centres would be run on franchisees.

'' We also have plans to venture into the overseas market, mainly in Africa, West Asia and SAARC countries, who depend on India for various technologies.

The course, specially designed by HCL based on Industry experience and latest technologies, involves seven modules, 21 projects and 70 online tests.

'' The course titled HCL Certified Network Engineers (HCNE) is of three-months full time and one year part-time course with modules on software, hardware and networking.

Besides, Mr Kumar informed that the faculties would include employees of HCL.

The Centre was inaugurated by West Bengal Information Technology Minister Debesh Das.

UNI