NITAT to identify Job-Ready Talent for the IT Industry
New Delhi, February 5, 2010: NIIT, leading Global Talent Development Corporation and Asia’s largest IT trainer, has announced country’s largest IT Aptitude Test— the 6th National IT Aptitude Test (NITAT) — to enable students and graduates to calibrate their potential and aptitude for a career in the promising IT industry. ‘NITAT 2010’, will be simultaneously conducted by NIIT, in over 120 cities nationwide, onFebruary 21, 2010.
Students desirous of checking their aptitude for IT can appear for NITAT 2010 by registering online on www.niiteducation.com/NITAT or by visiting the nearest NIIT centre.
As per latest industry figures announced by NASSCOM, the IT BPO exports market is expected to grow by 13-15 percent and the domestic market by 15-17 percent, thereby creating an additional 1,50,000 jobs in FY 10-11. The Industry will continue to remain a net hirer: Direct employment in Indian IT-BPO is estimated to cross 2.3 million; indirect job creation is estimated to reach 8.2 million. These figures are a reflection of the growing positive sentiments within the IT and ITeS sector.
Flagging off NITAT 2010 nationally, Mr. G. Raghavan, President- Global Individual Learning Solutions, NIIT said, “With the return of a strong hiring outlook, IT and ITeS industry will be looking for talent aggressively. It is, once again, time for youngsters to check out their aptitude for the industry by taking the NITAT test. Being held for the 6th consecutive year, National IT Aptitude Test (NITAT) by NIIT helps identify the right talent pool for meeting the manpower needs of the industry.”
NIIT’s pioneering initiative —NITAT— was introduced in 2004 to enable graduates and students pursuing their studies in engineering, arts, commerce and science streams to gauge their aptitude for a career in the IT sector, identify skills further required, if any, and thus systematically charter their career into the IT industry. NITAT has been endorsed by IT Industry, IDC and the prominent technology partners of NIIT like Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Adobe, EMC, Intel etc. Over the last 5 years NITAT has offered more than 1 lakh scholarships to IT aspirants in programmes offered by technology majors, to help initiate their careers in the IT industry.
Starting this year, NIIT has also instituted Dewang Mehta Scholarships for graduates and students graduating in 2010 who are keen to be associated with the IT industry.
NITAT has been designed as an objective type test of reasoning, comprehension, data interpretation skills and behavioural traits. Every student undergoing the test will receive a score-card with their interpretation, along with her/his nationwide and zonal ranking. The assessment is expected to be of particular benefit to graduating students in deciding the careers that they should take up.
A list of ‘Promising IT Professionals of the Future’, including names of those with ‘Very High’ or ‘High IT Aptitude’ will be announced by NIIT and made available on www.niiteducation.com/NITAT. This identified resource pool can be accessed by prospective employers including leading technology companies for their talent needs. NIIT will also award special recognition certificates to merit list candidates and encourage their pursuit of a career in IT. Toppers will also be invited to a special ‘Placement Fair’ at key locations, across the country.
According to a recent IDC survey, domestic IT/ITeS industry, the major contributor to the Indian economic growth for the past few years, is expected to grow by 15% to touch Rs. 1,20,666 crores in 2010. This will bring more opportunities for people with the right skills.
As per Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, 2010 will see a step up in hiring as India has reported the strongest hiring plans globally since the third quarter of 2008.
These are clearly signs of healthy economic recovery for India, for which job-ready manpower will become a necessity. NITAT aims at fulfilling this need by identifying a ready talent pool for immediate absorption by the industry.