Professional colleges on India Inc radar

An acute manpower crunch is prompting Indian companies to tie up with domestic and overseas universities, which offer courses in disciplines such as bio pharma and retail chain management. The aim is to tap the qualified hands through academic partnerships.

The Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India is looking forward to tying up with US universities to train its students in intellectual property rights and patent in the pharma sector. Earlier, the organisation had a one-year tie up with SP Jain institute of Management Studies.

"We have institutes to provide training but there is still a skill crunch. There is no match between the training that colleges provide and the requirements of the companies. We are looking at the universities which specialise in subjects related to bio-pharma. We not only require skilled personnel in the field of science but also in the field of marketing," said Ajit Dangi, director general, OPPI.

With the economy booming like never before the corporates have understood the need to gear up to address the growing manpower need with the right mix of talent.

 The retail chain major Pantaloon Retail has inked memorandum of understandings with seven management colleges in the country.

It already has tie ups with K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and L N Welingkars Institute of Management and Development Research. Pantaloon has refused to divulge the names of the colleges. 

"Even though retail industry is expanding, it has not received response from the academic sector. So the industry needs to address the growing manpower need. Infact, the government too should do something about it," said Sanjay Jog, head (Human Resources), Pantaloon Retails India.

Pantaloon will launch a concept called Gurukul by mid March, where freshers will be trained on on frontline job. "In any frontline job one should feel good about oneself. The concept of Gurukul aims to enhance the feel good factor among the freshers," said Jog.