Date:25/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/25/stories/2006012519130500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Programme to help students gain critical skills

Staff Reporter

Initiative to make participants "become self-starters, excellent communicators and good team players"

CHENNAI: An introductory programme on "Critical skills orientation programme for excellence (COPE)," was held on Saturday by the COPE Foundation to help Anna University students gain marketable job skills and competencies.

This initiative, which was held at the Alumni Club of Anna University, sought to make the participants "become self-starters, excellent communicators and good team players."

COPE has been planned by a team of experienced professionals from different sectors of industry and trade. They felt that there was great demand for skilled and qualified workforce.

While colleges and institutions provided basic education, the students were found to be inadequate to measure up to actual industry needs. This was reflected by the fact that even though a large number of persons go through the different selection procedures of the companies, only a very small percentage ultimately got the offers, said P. Mohan, a COPE promoter. It was this imbalance that his organisation sought to rectify through the training sessions and workshops, Mr. Mohan said.

The participants were exposed to hands-on and real life experiences to understand the basics of the various selection processes and align themselves to face the situations. Shortly, COPE would initiate similar programmes in different educational institutions. For details, look up web site www.copefoundation.net.in or call 94441 94578.