To enhance Student Skills and Employability in Cutting Edge Technologies

Chennai, August 12, 2011: Virtusa Corporation (NASDAQ: VRTU), a global IT services company that offers a broad range of information technology services, including IT consulting, technology implementation and application outsourcing, today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Sathyabama University (Jeppiaar Educational Trust), Chennai for setting up a Rich Internet Application (RIA) and Mobile Apps Development Lab. The MOU envisions enriching the technical expertise of students studying in various engineering disciplines and especially in the field of Information Technology (IT).

As per NASSCOM estimates, the Indian IT sector will be hiring around 2.5 lakh professionals during the fiscal year and is predicted to have a robust growth for the next few years. However, the industry will face a unique challenge when it comes to finding the right talent. In today’s dynamic business and technology environment, the academic curriculum needs continuous update and improvement so as to be current and aligned with the industry needs. This demands an urgent need for greater industry-academia collaboration to address the issue.

The MOU, a small step in that direction, focuses on providing state-of-the-art technical knowledge and promoting effective learning practices to enhance student skills and employability. The scope of the collaboration covers:

Creating a knowledge pool for studentsThe collaboration will establish a Rich Internet Application (RIA) and Mobile Apps Development lab at Sathyabama University for students to understand and work on cutting-edge technologies. There will be special lectures for students on open source, internet and mobile apps. This will enable the students to enhance their skills and prepare them to participate in national and international level conferences. Students will be also encouraged to visit the Virtusa campus for final year project execution.
Faculty OrientationThrough this program, Virtusa will impart training to faculty members of Sathyabama University, while also sharing industry-oriented courseware and technical knowledge. This will allow them to be up-to-date on the latest developments in the IT sector and be instrumental in developing the course curriculum that is practical in nature.
University OrientationVirtusa will work closely with the education bodies/Universities to align the college curriculum with industry requirements and thus strengthen the relationship with Universities/Colleges.

Speaking on the occasion, Roger Keith Modder, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Virtusa, said, “Rapid advancements in technology are re-orienting the business environment. A strong Industry-academia collaboration would provide the right platform for innovation and growth. Virtusa has always been at the forefront of cutting edge technology, owing to its focus and commitment on delivering innovative technology solutions for our global customers.” Further, he added, “Through our Campus Reach Initiative, we are committed to enhancing the students’ skills in modern technologies and also helping them improve their employability in this innovation-driven global economy. We envisage this MOU including the setting up of the Mobility Lab to prepare students for the industry needs of the future”.

Dr. Jeppiaar, Chancellor of Sathyabama University, said, “The MOU with Virtusa has opened up a new chapter in the history of Sathyabama University for greater industry-academia partnership in enhancing the technical skills of the students. This will also equip the candidates with the requisite skills in employability and widens the scope of placement.”

As a socially responsible organization, Virtusa’s sustainability initiatives focus on making an impact in education and helping to create a more digitally-inclusive society. The company’s Campus Reach Initiative focuses on being a model contributor to academic institutions for advancing the growth of future generations of IT professionals by sharing our world-class industry expertise.

About Sathyabama UniversitySathyabama University was established under section (3) of the UGC Act, 1956 (A Christian Minority Institution) which was formerly known as Sathyabama Engineering College established by JEPPIAAR EDUCATIONAL TRUST in 1987. It is a pioneer institute imparting knowledge in the areas of engineering, science, technology and education. The institution's progress and contribution in the field of technical education for over two decades made the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India to grant Deemed University status on 16 July 2001 and University status on 13 September 2006 under section(3) of the UGC Act, 1956.

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