Date:21/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/04/21/stories/2006042102522100.htm

Back Andhra varsity, HSBC sign MoU

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To introduce special course with focus on customer service management

Training ground
Mr Iain Coleman, centre manager of HSBC, said the course would broaden the horizons of students and enable them to enter the global market.
HSBC has been making efforts to upgrade the skills of local graduates and recruit them.

Mr Iain Coleman, Centre Manager, HSBC, signing a memorandum of understanding with the Andhra University on introduction of a new course (B.Com Customer Service) in distance mode on Thursday in Visakhapatnam, as the Vice-Chancellor, Dr L. Venugopala Reddy, and Prof. K.C Reddy, Chairman of the State Council for Higher Education, look on. Dr Vijaya Prakash, Registrar of the university, is also seen. — C.V. Subrahmanyam

Visakhapatnam , April 20

The Andhra University and the Vizag centre of the HSBC Global Resourcing signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday for introduction of a special B.Com graduate (three-year) course with focus on customer service management. It will be in the distance mode.

Prof L. Venugopala Reddy, Vice-Chancellor, said it was a significant step as it would address the requirements of HSBC besides offering an opportunity to young undergraduates to work in an MNC. "We are making efforts to sign MoUs with several universities as well as industries to prepare our students for the present market situation, as the Indian economy is really upbeat,'' he said.

Mr Iain Coleman, centre manager of HSBC, said it would broaden the horizons of the students and enable them to enter the global market. He said HSBC had arrived here two years ago and since then it had been making efforts to upgrade the skills of local graduates and recruit them. The introduction of the course is a step in that direction.

Dr D. Harinarayana, director of the school of distance education, said the service industry was the fastest growing sectors in the country and there was a great demand for professionals in the field.

``This new B.Com course, with emphasis on customer service management, will enable the student to work for three days in the local HSBC centre and study for the rest of the week in the university. The annual fee for the three-year course will be Rs 20,000, half of which will be borne by HSBC. Besides, the student will also be paid stipend by HSBC,'' he said.

After completion of the course, the student could work for HSBC or seek employment elsewhere. The intake of students would be limited, he said.

Complimenting HSBC and the university, Dr K.C Reddy, Chairman of the AP Council for Higher Education, said most of the graduates were found wanting in communication skills and other respects, when tested for recruitment by the MNCs. Prof P. Vijaya Prakash, Registrar of the Andhra University, and Mr Coleman signed the MoU.