TCS partners 4 colleges for creating Big Data talent

The company will offer MSc programme specialising in Big Data this year starting July

Country's largest software services firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has partnered with four colleges to offer courses in Big Data as it looks to strengthen the pool of workforce in the digital technology space in India.

The four colleges -- Swami Vivekananda University (West Bengal), St Xaviers College of Arts and Science (Ahmedabad), Central University of Rajasthan (Rajasthan) and St Joseph's College (Bengaluru) -- will offer MSc programme specialising in Big Data starting July 2016.

"The digital revolution is being led by data and TCS is leading in that area. We have already trained 1.2 lakh employees in this area in less than a year's time. We will be partnering with these colleges on the curriculum and the faculty will also be trained by us," TCS VP & Head BPO HR Ranjan Bandyopadhyay told PTI.

He added the programme would be of 2 years duration (3 semesters + 1 semester of internship).

"There is a shortage of manpower in areas like Big Data and that is a need that we are looking at meeting," he said.

The course will be open to graduates in courses like statistics, economics, mathematics and econometrics. There would be about 30 students in the course from each college.

"For next year, we are looking at partnering engineering colleges to add Big Data to MTech courses and go big from year three. We have seen a lot of enthusiasm from students for these courses," he said.

At the company's AGM recently, Tata Group Chairman Cyrus Mistry had said the company is investing in new IPs with a focus on changing technology.

The company's digital revenue crossed $2 billion in FY2015-16 and Mistry said TCS is well positioned to lead the digital revolution.