Microsoft India, leader in software for personal and business computing, and Sify Technologies, a leader in Consumer Internet and Enterprise Services in India with global delivery capabilities, today announced a partnership that will enhance digital literacy skills across India. As per the partnership, the close to 2000 Sify e-Port cyber cafes in the country will offer two specific courses in an eLearning model: Digital Literacy and Windows & Office Essentials. Sify e-Ports are India’s largest network of Internet browsing centres across 200 cities in the country.
Of the two courses, while Digital Literacy aims at educating users on baseline ICT skills like computer basics, Internet usage, computer security and privacy; the Windows & Office Essentials course will aim to enhance skills on the usage of Windows XP/Vista & Office 2007, the knowledge of which is a core skill requirement for any job in the market today. On successful completion of either of these courses, candidates will have to take an Online Assessment Test and on its successful completion, will receive a Microsoft ‘Certificate of Completion’.
Commenting on the benefits of the program, Anoop Gupta, Vice President, Microsoft Corp. Pvt. Ltd. said, “The Microsoft Unlimited Potential effort is centred on the belief that, to benefit the people currently underserved by it, technology needs to be accessible and relevant in addition to being affordable. This eLearning course imparts basic IT skills to enhance one’s employability quotient, making it extremely relevant to practically every worker; and will be offered across the largest chain of cafes in India, making it accessible to the thousands of people who can access cybercafés.”
Mr CVS Suri, Chief Operating Officer, Sify Technologies Limited, added, “Sify e-Ports have one of the most reliable and secure infrastructures across 200 cities, using the latest technologies and genuine software to offer high-quality Internet access and computing at a very affordable price. It has been our constant endeavor to make technology available to millions of consumers who cannot afford to buy a computer. This partnership with Microsoft India adds great value to our mission of providing the latest and best resources to our customers.”
The Digital Literacy course typically takes about 20 hours to complete, while the Windows & Office Essentials course takes about 60 hours. The two courses are priced at a modest Rs 299 and Rs 599, plus taxes, respectively. Candidates can opt for a ‘combo’ course which is affordably priced at Rs 699 plus taxes.
The courses are designed keeping in mind the IT skill shortage in Indian youth that makes them less employable. According to the India Labour Report 2007 by TeamLease, 53% of employed youth in India suffer some degree of skill shortage that spans across basic IT skills, soft skills and English skills. This course will address some of the basic IT skills shortfall in the market.
The project will be rolled out in a phased manner, with immediate trials in over 150 Sify e-port cyber cafes in Delhi and the NCR region. The outreach in residential and market areas, as well as colleges under the “Acquire Smart PC Skills” banner has already commenced. With a positive initial response, the program is now ready to be scaled to the remaining iCafes across the country over the next two to three months.
About Microsoft India
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. Microsoft Corporation India Private Ltd is a subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation USA. It has had a presence in India since 1990 and currently has offices in 16 cities - Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Jamshedpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, and Pune.
For more information, visit www.microsoft.com/india/msindia
About Sify
Sify is among the largest Managed Enterprise and Consumer Internet Services companies in India, offering end-to-end solutions with a comprehensive range of products delivered over a common telecom data network infrastructure reaching 500+ cities and towns in India.
A significant part of the company's revenue is derived from Corporate Services, which include corporate connectivity, network and communications solutions, security, network management services, enterprise applications and hosting. Sify is recognized as an ISO 9001:2000 certified service provider for network operations, data center operations and customer support, and for provisioning of VPNs, Internet bandwidth, VoIP solutions and integrated security solutions, and ISO 27001 certified for Internet Data Center operations. Sify has licenses to operate NLD (National Long Distance) and ILD (International Long Distance) services and offers VoIP back haul to long distance subscriber telephony services. The company is India's first enterprise managed services provider to launch a Security Operations Center (SOC) to deliver managed security services. A host of blue chip customers use Sify's corporate service offerings.
Consumer services include broadband home access, dial up connectivity and the e-port cybercafé chain across 180 cities and towns. Sify.com the consumer portal of Sify has sub portals like www.samachar.com, www.walletwatch.com, www.sifymax.com and www.chennailive.in, www.bangalorelive.in, www.mumbailive.in, www.hyderabadlive.in the city based live video on the web. The content is available in 5 Indian languages, which include Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Tamil.
