Nasscom rolls out NAC-TECH across India

By siliconindia   |   Friday, 25 January 2008, 16:57 IST
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Bangalore: Nasscom, the premier trade body of the Indian IT industry, has announced the rollout of NAC-tech, a unique skills assessment program for engineering students to benchmark entry level skills in the industry. The program will be undertaken by Nasscom in partnership with MeritTrac, one of India's largest skills assessment company. The program will evaluate candidates on communication and analytical abilities as well as technical skills. In the first phase, NAC-Tech will be rolled out across Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. One lakh candidates are expected to take the test in the next one year. The NAC-Tech test has been developed in consultation with IT industry experts and is structured at two levels; the NAC-Tech Diagnostic test and the NAC-Tech certification test. While the diagnostic test is a self- administered online test to provide candidates structured feedback on their strengths and areas of improvements. The certification test has two parts. Part A is mandatory and has tests on verbal ability, analytical reasoning, attention to detail, learning ability, programming and written English skills, While part B is optional and has tests in IT Concepts, Electronics and Communication, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Textile, Bio-technology, Electrical and Telecommunication. All scores are valid for a period of one year from the date of Assessment. As the Nasscom Advisory committee has short-listed MeritTrac Services as its Exclusive Assessment Partner for this initiative, the company will provide the content and the delivery expertise for rolling out this program across India and worldwide. According to Ms Sangeeta Gupta, Vice President, Nasscom, "The NAC Tech program aims to address this demand-supply gap in talent availability by helping students understand the requirements of the IT industry, assess and improve their skills based on the program, and tap employment opportunities in the fast growing knowledge sector." The results and analysis of the NAC tech assessment will also be regularly shared with the universities and government to make any recommended changes in curriculum and faculty development programs.