VirtusaCorporation, a global provider of digital strategy, digital engineering, and IT services and solutions that help clients change and disrupt markets through innovation engineering, held its 7thannual engineering academia connect program, “HeadStart 2021,” in Chennai. More than 200 educators from 100collegesattended this year’s event, where they discussed the current industry requirements around re-skilling and training, andhighlighted the opportunities and challenges faced by educators to equip students to be industry ready. At the event, Virtusaannounced the addition of32 more colleges to this unique, one-of-its-kind campus connect program enabling it to reach more than 5,000 students.Ashish Vidyarthi, noted Actor, Scriptwriter, Director, and Inspirational Speaker,delivered the keynote address speaking on the topic of “finding your potential.”
Attending the event in Chennai, Sundar Narayanan, Chief People Officer, Virtusa, said “We recognize that as companies increasefocus on balancing innovation and controlling costs, a continuous process of upskilling employees is of utmost importance and a pressing need. Launched earlier this year, Virtusa’s Thrive Academy aims to fulfil this needby providinghands-on exposure and training on these technologies under the Graduate Talent Program, and by organizing CoEs (Centres of Excellence) at leading engineering colleges through our campus connect program called HeadStart.”
The Panel discussion on “Preparing for the Future of Work Post-Covid-19″featuredRamachandran Meenakshisundaram – Chief Technology Officer of Virtusa, Venkatesh DK – Senior Vice President&Global Delivery Head (HLS), Dr A. V. Patil – Principal D. Y. Patil institute, Mr. Raman Batra – Executive Vice President Noida Institute of Engineering& Technology and Ms.Purnima Venkat, Professor T. A. Pai Management Institute. Panel participants deliberated on the future of theworkplace and key talent trends, addressing over 5000 students in addition to Virtusa employees. Six colleges that completed five years of Campus CoE association were also felicitated at the event.
“In today’s dynamic industry environment, we must equip students with extensive knowledge about newer technologies that are changing the way the IT industry functions, leading to an industry-ready, skilled workforce. Virtusa’s technical competencies with leading colleges across India and our CoE (Centers of Excellence) program are helping us hire top talent and prepare them to succeed. This focus on talent will lead to an overall improvement in the employee experience,” said RamachandranMeenakshisundaram, Chief Technology Officer, Virtusa at the event.
This year, the HeadStart program expanded to 32 new collegesand will also offer students paid internships that will provide them real time project exposure in the fast paced work environments. With further plans to open CoE’s on three additional niche technologies – ServiceNow, Microsoft Azure and Augmented Intelligence led Managed Services, the HeadStart program also aims to give students the chance to better understand and garner hands on experience with these new niche technologies.
