NIIT, IIM-C to launch technology-based executive education programmes

NIIT Ltd and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Calcutta have entered into a strategic alliance to offer executive development programmes through virtual classrooms.

The tie-up will enable high-quality management education to be delivered across the country through specially designed centres of advanced learning. IIM Calcutta will design these programmes, deliver them through its experienced faculty, and conduct evaluation and certification, while the NIIT will provide the technology for virtual classrooms and implement and manage the overall student experience.

Prof Shekhar Chaudhuri, director, IIM-C, and Rajendra S Pawar, chairman, NIIT signed a MoU to this effect this morning.

According to Pawar, "This marks another milestone in our long association with IIM Calcutta. With our special synchronous learning technology and learning management systems, we hope to recreate the campus experience at the centres we are setting up for these executive development programmes. Together with IIM-C's high-quality programmes and faculty, we expect to offer the best-in-class training for working professionals across the country, to give them an edge in their careers."

Through this alliance, IIM Calcutta will offer two programmes.

Programme on strategic management for senior executives: This programme will enable participants to broaden their business perspective, develop on tools and techniques required for managing organisations and very importantly transform them into strategic leaders in their organisations. The programme has a strong strategic focus.

The programme is broadly divided into two modules — introductory modules and the advanced module. While the first focuses on the essentials of functional skills of management, the advanced module shifts focus to strategic thinking, decision making, leadership styles, and managing business globally.

Programme on applied finance for executives in finance functions: The programme is designed to provide training in the techniques and nuances in finance expected of a successful professional, in the corporate sector, banks, and financial institutions. The programme would be equally relevant for professionals working (or plan to work) as broking / security analyst, consultants, and chartered / cost accountants.

Through this alliance working executives will be able to undertake management education programmes while being at work.

The synchronous learning technology adopted by NIIT provides real-time two-way video and audio through broadband, and uses special software to enable live faculty-students interaction and other features of classroom teaching. In this programme, the faculty will teach from an in-house studio located within IIM-C. The company would integrate e-learning with this and provide other education and learning management services required for the total student experience.