Intel, AMD share platform to expand talent base

Many firms are today entering or looking at the tier II and tier III cities to tap the manpower resources there. Very often, they may not have an idea of the skillsets of the manpower available there.

The computer skills proficiency test (CSPT), an initiative by the IT Department of Karnataka in partnership with MeritTrac, is expected to give the firms a better way to select candidates.

The test, which has been developed by MeritTrac, in consultation with industry helps a candidate know what is lacking in him/her. The initiative has now got a shot in the arm with Intel and AMD joining in to sponsor the tests for the candidates.

By this March-end, the government aims to conduct the tests for 10,000 students. Though the cost of the test is Rs 600 per test, the students need to pay only Rs 50. The rest of the cost is being shared equally by AMD and Intel. A one of a kind initiative that brings the two global chip-making rivals on the same platform.

Intel, though its Intel Teach programme has been trying to take technology tools into classrooms. AMD, on the other hand with its 50x15 initiative that aims to make 50 per cent of global population Internet-savvy by 2015, aims to promote computer literacy.

The initiative was launched during Bangalore IT.in in October last year. The effort is expected to give a thrust to the initiatives of various firms to set up centres in tier II and tier III towns which have today becoming happy hunting grounds for firms looking for talent.

"The CSPT could help increase the level of skills, take one step away from the evaluation process for BPOs and ITeS sectors and also help non-IT candidates enter IT-related jobs," said M N Vidyashankar, principal secretary, department of IT, BT and Science and Technology, Karnataka.

This could help the government assess what has to be done at the academic level to improve the computer skills of students, he added.

The CSPT has the twin objectives of helping candidates prove their skill level and also provide a measure for improvement upon the present levels.

The benchmarked score, based on the assessements conducted by MeritTrac, will provide candidates with accurate feedback on the present level of skills and will create a state-wide standard for computer skills.

The programmes will see colleges across zones in Karnataka being approached for registrations by students. The students will then be able to take the test and get a certification for their computer skills.