TCS' Ignite program trains 500 science graduates

Chennai, Aug 22 (UNI) Tata Consultancy Services, a leading IT services, business solutions and outsourcing organisation, today announced that the pilot program of Ignite, its pioneering initiative to help science graduates transform into software professionals, has been successfully completed by 500 trainees who have been inducted into the company's operations thereafter.

TCS proposed to scale up the Ignite program to hire 2,000 science graduates in the current fiscal. Designed as an intensive seven-month programme with live project experience, TCS Ignite aimed at equipping maths and science graduates with the skills necessary to pursue a career in the fast-growing IT industry, a company release here said.

The pilot batch of TCS Ignite consisted of 500 science graduates selected from over 200 colleges spread over nine States. Over 60 per cent of the batch comprised women belonging to various States, including the North Eastern States which have not been traditional ''talent sourcing destinations'' for IT companies.

All 500 science graduates were recruited through a rigorous selection process. Over 65 per cent of them were first generation graduates in their families, while approximately 60 per cent of the pilot batch came from tier-III cities, Class C towns and villages, the release said.

Commenting on the success of Ignite programme, company CEO and Managing Director S Ramadorai said ''TCS Ignite has proved that with the right learning methodologies, science graduates can be empowered with knowledge and skills relevant to this sector, thereby developing new sources of talent to sustain the growth of the Indian IT industry.'' UNI