Date:27/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/09/27/stories/2005092703281900.htm

Back Triumphant Institute in talks with tech companies to tap e-learning

K.V. Kurmanath

Hyderabad , Sept. 26

TRIUMPHANT Institute of Management Education (TIME), the Rs 40-crore Secunderabad-based education-training institute, has initiated discussions with technology companies to explore opportunities in e-learning.

"We will provide the content and distribution, while taking their help in using their technology to offer e-learning programmes," Mr P. Viswanath, Founder-Director of TIME, told Business Line.

The e-learning backbone would not only supplement the regular students but also help reach out non-centre students.

The company offered training for tests such as CAT (Common Admission Test for premier management schools), IIT-JEE, GRE and TOEFL in 57 cities.

It would appoint franchises in 15 more cities and towns next year. The new centres and the steady growth of the existing ones are expected to generate a turnover of Rs 100 crore next year. "This, we think, is a great growth area," he said.

On its plans, he said the company eyed the Gulf and China as next growth areas. But it would take three-four years to enter those markets.

TIME would follow a two-pronged approach, targeting both the school students, who would graduate to the college level to take on the tests, and those who are to face the examinations soon.

As part of this plan, the company would expand the scope and reach of competitions and conferences in schools and colleges across the country.

For school students, it plans to launch concept-building programmes in physics, chemistry and mathematics.

One of the upcoming projects included a `demystifying' series with a focus on mathematics.

It would scale up the inter-school science quiz competitions, presently held in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai, nationally. By next year, this would be expanded to 15 more cities and towns.

The company would also start at least two schools by 2007-08. For college students, it would launch business quiz to bring about corporate awareness among the students.

TIME would start a programme called `MS in US' that would promote awareness on what it required to join academic bodies in the Unites States of America.

"Things like what do they (US colleges) look for and how to prepare oneself would be tackled in the programme," he said.