A Mass Based HRD Programme for IT and ITES

In recent years, the Government has launched several projects for attracting investment in the IT sector all over the State. These include Technocity in Thiruvananthapuram, Smart City in Kochi, expansion of Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam, expansion of Infopark in Kochi, Cherthala, Ambalapuzha, and Thrissur, Cyberpark in Kozhikode, IT parks in Kannur and Kasargode. The creation on infrastructure at rural areas will usher in an era of migration of major IT companies from metro cities to tier II and III centres.

The creation of infrastructure notwithstanding, skilled manpower is a major determinant for the blossoming of IT and its enabled sectors. There is a great need to make available a large pool of trained human resources for the industry. Recognising this, the Kerala State IT Mission has launched a decentralised human resource training programme called Mass Based HR Programme, to mainly cater to the IT and ITES.

The scheme proposes training of graduates and students in all disciplines, in two categories. Included in the first category are college graduates who have already graduated but have not secured employment. It is proposed to train this category through institutions empanelled for the purpose. Wherever it is not possible to identify institutions to impart the course, Akshaya Centres would be equipped to provide training. Students in colleges constitute the second category, for whom the course content would be integrated with the regular course curriculum. Approximately 150 colleges and polytechnics are expected to be covered under this programme.

It is also proposed to train four faculty members from each college/polytechnic for imparting this course in respective institutions. The trained faculty would be provided a monthly honorarium by KSITM for conducting the courses. Though the maximum fees fixed for the course has been fixed at Rs 3000, the college authorities have the choice to offer it at a lesser fees as the course is not expected to incur much expense. The programme also envisages subsidizing the course fee for students belonging to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), lady students and those from scheduled castes and tribes. It is proposed to provide some incentive to the institution setting up the programme.

The 120-hour course shall include skills in personality development, behavioural skills, communicative English and technical skills. The course curriculum has been prepared by a Technical Committee including representatives from NASSCOM, leading IT and ITES industries and academia. The students will be assessed before and after the course to evaluate their improvement.

Training to Master Trainers from selected colleges of Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. The courses for the students will begin in November. For more details regarding the programme or the training, please contact Kerala State IT Mission.

Course Curriculum

GO No 24/2008/ITD dated 18/06/2008