Press Release

2013

NIIT and Autodesk partner to redefine design education in IndiaAim to reach over a million students in a decade with cutting-edge programs that promote ‘design thinking’

New Delhi, August 29, 2013: NIIT, leading Global Talent Development Corporation, and Asia’s largest IT trainer, NIIT University, the University of the Future and Autodesk Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK), a world leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software and services today entered into a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to evangelize design as a learning discipline in India. The objective is to promote design literacy, design skilling and research & innovation in design. Given the dynamism in markets, work roles, and customer expectations, design thinking today is being recognized as one of the essential skills for all industries.

Under this significant partnership, NIIT and NIIT University will leverage design tools of Autodesk to offer a host of design programs. NIIT University will set up a design lab and launch masters programs in design to support research and innovation. In addition, various specialized design programs will be launched for college students in verticals such as interface design, application design and media & entertainment design with an aim to create a pool of skilled manpower for these specific industries. For school students, NIIT will introduce design literacy programs to promote design thinking. NIIT along with Autodesk and a specially constituted Design Advisory Council, set up under the aegis of NIIT University, will be designing the curriculum. More than a million students will be reached in over a decade.

According to a study by Gallup, 21st century skills should prepare and equip youth for the challenges and demands of work in today’s knowledge-based, technology-driven, globalized environment. Just as IT helped India gain global recognition and spurred the growth of the service sector, about a decade ago, “Design Thinking” can be the differentiator that changes the economics of Indian workers and businesses and catalyzes the growth of the knowledge sector.

As a catalyst for transformation, Design Thinking cannot be a limited expertise. It has to permeate to a larger group. Design in India is a very old activity but a very young profession. Fragmented students and limited number of design experts have so far prevented a wider reach of the skill. However, today, newer models of training delivery, such as NIIT’s Cloud Campus have the potential to enhance the reach of design experts. By entering into this partnership with Autodesk, NIIT takes the first step towards introducing design thinking amongst school and college students.

Speaking on this significant partnership, Vijay Thadani, CEO, NIIT Ltd. said, “In line with our vision to offer career focused training programs in the emerging areas of the knowledge society, we are delighted to partner with Autodesk to introduce avant-garde courses in design for students across India. The idea is not only to open career avenues in design but also to promote ‘design thinking’ amongst the youth, that our research indicates as a key trait that today’s employers’ are looking for. We evangelized IT training in India and now three decades later, we are excited to start a new wave of evangelizing design thinking and training in India.”

George Abraham, Director of Emerging Markets, Autodesk Education said, “We at Autodesk are committed to advancing technical education and skill development in design education in India. With a full portfolio of professional and personal design products, Autodesk endeavors to introduce students at all levels to the power of design technology, thus fostering an early interest so that they may develop into true design professionals. Partnership with NIIT will further our vision to promote design education by meeting critical gaps in talent pool with our skills and pedagogy to help people imagine, design and create a better world.”

Dr. Rajendra Pandey, President, NIIT University said, “We are committed to being the leading centre of Innovation and learning in emerging areas of the knowledge society. “Design Thinking,” today, is an essential skill for a successful knowledge professional. A workforce enriched with Design Thinking skills will help India become a world leader in Innovation.”

While the overall objective of this partnership is to promote design thinking in every job role, the programs will also develop skilled manpower for the rapidly growing Computer-aided Design (CAD) industry, which is estimated to grow at CAGR of 13.5 percent by 2015, per a recent report by Technavio.

About NIIT Ltd.
Established in 1981, NIIT Limited, a leading Global Talent Development Corporation and Asia’s premier IT trainer, offers learning and knowledge solutions across 40 countries. Leading IT journal Dataquest has conferred upon NIIT the ‘Top IT Training Company’ award successively for the past 20 years, since the inception of this category.

NIIT’s Individual Learning Business offerings include industry-endorsed programs for students seeking careers in IT – GNIIT and Edgeineers, and GlobalNet+ for IT professionals. The company has introduced “India’s first cloud campus”, through its new-age GNIIT program. This offers students a higher mobility as they can access courseware using Netbooks to connect seamlessly to NIIT’s Cloud Campus network.

NIIT’s Corporate Learning Solutions offers Managed Training Services including integrated learning solutions (strategic consulting, learning design, content development, delivery, technology, assessment and learning management) to Fortune 500 companies, Universities, Technology companies, Training corporations and Publishing houses.

NIIT Yuva Jyoti, a joint venture between NIIT and NSDC, offers vocational skills training programs to enhance employability of youth across India.

NIIT has provided computer-based learning to around 17,000 Government and private schools. The futuristic NIIT nGuru range of learning solutions for schools comprises Interactive Classrooms, Math Lab, IT Wizard programs and Quick School (Education Resource Planning software).

NIIT Imperia - Centre for Advanced Learning, offers Executive Learning Programs in association with leading Business schools in India, KPMG, Google India and Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), using the synchronous learning platform.

NIIT Institute of Finance Banking & Insurance (NIIT IFBI), formed by NIIT with equity participation from ICICI Bank, offers programs for individuals and corporates in Banking, Financial Services and Insurance.

NIIT Institute of Process Excellence Limited, a NIIT-GENPACT venture (NIIT Uniqua), offers complete training outsourcing services to the Business Process, Knowledge and Technology Services industry to create business models that enhance productivity and lower costs.

In recognition of its people centric policies, which foster an environment of growth and career development, NIIT has been ranked as the 4th Best company to work for in India 2013-14, by Great Place to Work Institute®.

About Autodesk
Autodesk (Autodesk, Inc.) helps people imagine, design and create a better world. Everyone—from design professionals, engineers and architects to digital artists, students and hobbyists—uses Autodesk software to unlock their creativity and solve important challenges.

For more information visit autodesk.com or follow @autodesk.

Autodesk and [others] are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. Academy Award is a registered trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

© 2013 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

About NIIT University
Nestled in the foothills of the Aravali in Neemrana, Rajasthan, the picturesque 100-acre fully residential green campus of the not-for-profit NIIT University is truly, ‘The University of the Future’. Established in 2009, with a vision to bring about innovation in higher education and learning in emerging areas of the knowledge society, NIIT University (NU) is equipped with state-of-the-art technology-enabled methodology that's backed by a strong research-focused curriculum for facilitating a continuous process of learning and development. NU has been developed as an institute of excellence to provide exceptional education based on the four core principles that make learning industry-linked, technology-based, research-driven and seamless. For more information visitwww.niituniversity.in.

For media queries, please contact:
From NIIT
Prateek Chatterjee
Vice President, Corporate Communications & Marketing, NIIT Limited
Ph: (Cell) +91 9910201085, (Dir) +91 124 4293041
Email:prateek.chatterjee@niit.com