The Chinese Will Learn Computers from NIIT
By Pankaj Maru
Mumbai, Apr 8, 2008

Recently, NIIT has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Wuxi Municipal Government, to set up IT training centers that will teach computer programs to the locals. Under the MoU, NIIT and Wuxi Government will work together, to develop a talent pool to cater to the demand of IT industy in China.

G. Raghavan, president (Individual Learning Solutions) of NIIT and Yang Weize, general secretary of Wuxi Municipal Government had signed the MoU, during the 'Wuxi-Bangalore Business Seminar on Service Cooperation.'

The Wuxi Municipal Government has designated Raghavan as 'chief consultant' for the city. Under this role, Raghavan will help the local government to set up IT infrastructure that can promote the local talent pool.

"We are committed to develop Wuxi as the leading outsourcing centre in China. We are delighted to find a partner like NIIT to support us in this mission. NIIT's long presence in China and their pioneering experience in India will help us in developing a large pool of IT human resources in Wuxi," said Weize, party general secretary of Wuxi.

According to Raghavan, the tie-up with Wuxi Government is a significant enhancement of NIIT's decade long commitment to develop IT talent in the fast growing Chinese market.

"I am honored by the faith reposed by this appointment. It is indeed an acknowledgement of NIIT's global experience, and its applicability in China in the field of IT talent development," he said.

In addition, NIIT has also signed another MoU with Wuxi New District for educational purposes. Under these partnerships, the NIIT will offer IT education and training as per the industry needs, and Wuxi Government will promote its IT educational policies at all levels of administration.

About relationship between the two countries in the IT field, Raghavan said, "Leading Asian economies, India and China can come together, and use their strengths innovatively in the area of developing talent for the global knowledge economy."

"In 1997, NIIT ventured into China, through an association with the Municipal Education Arm of Pudong. A decade back, it was not easy for an Indian company to scale the Great Wall of China, and enter its vast education market," said Prakash Menon, president of NIIT China.

"But the fact that the Chinese government was aware of our credentials helped. NIIT made a quiet entry into China, and began operations by understanding its education market, and the ways in which it could be addressed," added Menon.

Wuxi city, also called 'Liangxi' is an emerging economic center of China, situated in Jiangsu Province. The city is 128 kms away from Shanghai, and closely follows the foot steps of the former in the fields of business and commercial activities. Also, the city has earned the reputation as 'Mini Shanghai,' because of the silicon and solar cell manufacturing industries.

NIIT is offering IT educational services and trainings in China for the past 1 decade. About 129 local universities and colleges have tied-up with NIIT for the IT training programmes. More than 170 centers have been setup across 23 provinces, and about 50,000 local people have been trained by NIIT so far.


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