IT finishing school plans expansion in Punjab

Calcutta News.Net
Friday 23rd November, 2007 (IANS)

India's first information technology (IT) finishing school, the Mysore-based Raman International Institute of Information Technology (RIIIT), is negotiating with the Chandigarh administration for setting up an institute there.

'We are discussing with the Chandigarh government whereby we would be able to use the premises of the government educational institutions,' S.V. Venkatesh, founder and CEO, told reporters here Friday.

Finishing schools are supplementary training schools targeting graduates from different fields in an attempt to make up for deficiencies in the education system and offer certificate courses in executive excellence, soft skills and groom them to expected industry standards.

The one complaint in the Indian IT industry is the non-availability of readymade talent that fits into a job. While companies do conduct training programmes, the need for an IT finishing school has been felt as it cuts short precious time for the employers.

The institute has held two rounds of discussions with the Chandigarh administration and one more round is in the offing, Venkatesh said.

According to Venkatesh, RIIIT is planning to set up IT finishing schools in five major cities soon and is looking out for joint venture partners in other cities.

'We are not in favour of franchisee model as ensuring quality will be difficult. On the other hand having an equity stake would enable us to enforce quality in all our schools,' he added.

RIIIT functions out of a 30,000 square feet campus in Mysore that can have 1,000 students.

Mysore University certifies the industry-specific curriculum, Venkatesh said.

The institute now plans to put up a new building on five acres allotted by the Karnataka government.

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