Bits & bytes
Andhra will have 8 m jobs by 2015

Andhra Pradesh will have 7.5 to 8 million new jobs to offer by 2015, which are likely to come from sectors like IT and IT Enabled Services (ITeS), textiles, engineering, tourism and health care, a study conducted by the Confederation of Indian Industry said in Hyderabad recently.

Among the eight million openings, 4.5 million are likely to be skilled and highly skilled professionals, others would be unskilled human resources, it said.

Considering the "employability" of these resources, it is required to create educational infrastructure and support systems like training programmes and vocational courses capable of training 3.2 million students till 2015.

The study points out that new employment opportunities in the state would not only call for enhanced functional and to an extent sector-specific competencies, but also several "soft" skills to address deficiencies like self-esteem, ability to work in a team.

Interestingly, the study points out that out of the total engineering graduates and diploma holders passing out from the state every year, over 40 per cent remain unemployed even two years after passing out due to the disconnect between academic curricula and industry requirements.

The CII suggested taking of sustenance training and employability programme, a skill development initiative, and creation of Skill Development Fund is ensure adequate resource availability. The initiative would entail an annual funding of Rs 650 crore, it said.

It also recommended constitution of a separate nodal agency to manage disbursement of funds to support various training initiatives. — PTI

Reckoning India’s growth as a global economy, this year the Marketing Club at the Indian School of Business (ISB) Hyderabad, themed their annual flagship event Ikshaa as ‘Beyond Rich India. Lower Income Segments — A Marketing Opportunity’.

The Summit brought together prominent industry leaders and marketing experts, who shared their diverse, forward-looking perspectives on pertinent issues those marketers in emerging economies face today.

In his welcome note, Deputy Dean Ajit Rangnekar said that the ISB thrives on diversity with special focus on emerging markets. The purpose of ikshaa thus was to bring the two characteristics together.

"India has the richest portfolio and the India growth story is hotting up, especially in the FMCG sector," said keynote speaker Douglas Baillie, CEO Hindustan Unilever Ltd.`A0

The other half of the day saw a panel discussion about the opportunities`A0that the large and increasing lower income segment in India poses to a number of Indian and multi-national companies.

`A0The panel deliberated on the multi-faceted challenges — infrastructure, technology, vast geographic reach, diverse cultures and consumer mindset etc- that these companies have to face and the on re-thinking of strategies in order to successfully address this segment. — TNS

Offshoring in China and India is having a negative impact on the number of American computer science degrees, and the US policymakers need to address the issue, according to a report by the Commission on Professionals in Science and Technology (CPST).

Pointing out weaknesses in the United States' ability to compete with India, China and other nations in the field, the report urged the policymakers to improve conditions for the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce.

The commission found that between 2001 and 2006, enrollments in bachelor's programmes in computer science dropped 40 per cent and one of the major reasons that students are shying away are the increased risk for job loss in IT due to offshoring.

In addition, it says, there is less incentive for Americans to invest in continuing education with more employers moving toward "on-demand" employment and an expectation of short employee tenure.

"This leaves STEM professionals especially vulnerable since keeping up with the pace of technology is critical to their employability." — PTI