The Hindu Business Line : AP set to emerge as hub of premier tech institutions

Hyderabad April 2 The Information Technology (IT) and IT-enabled Services (IteS) industry in Hyderabad is all pepped up as the State is set to emerge as a hub of premier technology institutions in the next two-three years. This in turn could go a long way in addressing the manpower needs of the industry.

Andhra Pradesh, which has a National Institute of Technology (formerly Regional Engineering College) at Warangal and an International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Hyderabad, will soon add the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) coming up at Kandi in Medak apart from three new IIIT campuses. This is in addition to the campus of BITS Pilani in Hyderabad, which is expected to be ready by next year.

For the industry this means a lot on Human Resources front, say industry sources. "Once you have the IIT and BITS here, the quality of workforce will go up significantly due to the high calibre of such institutes. There will be fruitful industry-academia interaction as they will take up innovative projects and incubation programmes,'' Mr Bipin Chandra, Head (HR), Knoah Solutions, told Business Line.

SPECIALISED TALENT

Industry can also look for relief in some specific areas of talent, which is lacking now. "There is a need for quality M.Techs to focus on upcoming branches such as aerospace and marine engineering. IIT and BITS may alter this situation for the better,'' says Mr B. Ashok Reddy, Executive Vice-President (HR), Infotech Enterprises.

As Andhra Pradesh pockets a significant number of IIT seats every year, its presence in the State would further motivate tech graduates to scale up, he pointed out.

However, there is a flip side too. If one talks in terms of quantity, there may not be a big difference. "At the most, all these premier institutes can add a little over 2,000 to 3,000 top-end professionals. It is also equally important to focus on quality upgradation of the large number of engineering colleges in the State (there are over 280),'' says Mr Dasarath R. Gude, Managing Director, ATI Technologies.

FUNDS FOR IIITs

Meanwhile, the State Government has granted Rs 10 crore each to the new IIIT campuses being set up at Idupulapaya in Kadapa, Basara in Adilabad and Nuzuvid in Krishna district.

In a review meeting on the progress of new State universities and 21st Century Gurukulams with officials here on Monday, the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, directed the Finance Department to release grant to the IIITs in the current academic year, according to a press release issued here.

In view of the IIIT location in Basara, the previously announced 21st Century Gurukulam in Basara would be relocated. The funds for other proposed Gurukulams at Etcherla, Idupulapaya, have already been allotted and the works will begin soon, the release added.

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