IBM Collaborates With TN Colleges, Opens 6 CoEs

IBM announced extended collaboration with six engineering and technology
colleges in Tamil Nadu and opened up Centers of Excellence (CoE), creating a
unique opportunity for students to learn new skill sets on IBM software
products-like DB2, WebSphere, Lotus, Rational and Tivoli-and develop
world-class business solutions.

The CoEs were launched at Sona College of Technology, Salem; KLN College of
Information Technology, Madurai; Kalasilingam University, Krishnankovil; RMK
College of Engineering, Chennai; Karpagam College of Engineering, Coimbatore
and Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore.

The colleges will provide infrastructure and high end systems, while IBM
will extend its entire range of software suite free of charge. The software
vendor will follow a two-pronged approach. It will provide the colleges with
access to technologies relevant to the market and ensure that the right
skills are taught.

"Organizations are not looking for nuts-and-bolts programmers and
easy-to-document support workers," said Himanshu Goyal, Country Manager,
Academic Initiative, Developer Works and Globalization, IBM India and South
Asia. "Increased competitiveness and demand for the corresponding business
and technology skills will require students to develop a unique skill-set
never seen before but the supply of such people with the right skills for a
smart planet is increasingly inadequate. CoEs are an extension of IBM's
commitment to nurture skills for the 21st century."