IFBI opens new centres in Pune, Ahmedabad and Delhi

Mumbai, Aug 6 (UNI) The Institute of Finance, Banking and Insurance (IFBI), an NIIT initiative, has extended to markets beyond the metros, to foster skilled manpower for the financial services sectors by setting up new centres in Ahmedabad and Pune.

It has also added two more centres in Delhi, Northern Capital Region (NCR) taking the tally to 10 education centres across the country, in the first year of its operations. The institute now has a network of education centres spanning 10 cities including Mumbai.

President Strategic Initiatives NIIT, Dr Smarajit Dey said, ''IFBI is focussed at developing talent by grooming entry-level candidates and re-skilling existing professionals as the banking and financial services sector is facing an acute shortage of talent in the country. Therefore, the institute will extend its offerings to large untapped markets, beyond metros.'' IFBI's six-month comprehensive program, Post Graduate Diploma in Banking Operations (PGDBO) catering to the manpower needs of the banking sector was a sucess. Over 400 students of its PGDBO program have joined country's second largest bank, the ICICI Bank, Dey said.

Head of IFBI, S Venkatesh said, ''The success of the PGDBO program has resulted in cent per cent increase in enrolment for IFBI in the first quarter of the current financial year.'' The Banking industry currently employs nine lakh people and is expected to add another six lakh skilled professionals in the next four to five years.

Set up with equity participation from ICICI Bank, IFBI is supported by the Bank in designing the curriculum, developing the course content, and offering laboratory and Internship sites to the students.

ICICI Bank also grants education loans to students selected for the institute's training programme.

UNI