NIIT launches i-GNIIT for Internet education

NEW DELHI: NIIT has announced the nationwide launch of i-GNIIT program targeted towards preparing students for the Internet age. According to a release, the i-GNIIT program comprises a comprehensive web-based IT curriculum designed to equip students for a career in the latest Internet technologies.

The three-year program will train students in web programming, emerging web technology and multi-user operating system besides integrating the Professional Practice component in the third year, enabling students to apply the skills acquired on real-life projects. NIIT has entered into an exclusive tie-up with Citibank to offer a seven-year Citibank loan to deserving students who qualify for the new i-GNIIT program.

Speaking on the occasion Mr R. Venkatesh Iyer, Head NIIT's Education Business, said, "The i-GNIIT program is a completely integrated Internet driven training program that will help catapult the future Indian IT professional into the next level of dominance in the global software industry."

"This new program, which is based on NIIT's Brick & Portal model, has been initiated following the success of the NIIT Fast Track program launched in Atlanta in September 1999," he added.

NIIT's Fast Track program provides education for students in US who are seeking an accelerated IT career route and gives them a choice to study from NIIT material off the Internet, NIIT classroom or NIIT created CD ROM-based titles.

"The Citibank loan program is a new and vital aspect of NIIT's offering and makes it possible for a wider range of students to take advantage of the i-GNIIT program," Mr Iyer said.

The Citibank loan covers the fees of the program and also entitles students to buy a PC with no initial payment. The unique feature of the loan is that during the duration of the 2-year course, students are not required to make any repayment. At the end of the 24 months, the loan would rollover into an equal monthly installment that continues for the next 60 months, thus, allowing students to repay from the own earnings.

Mr P.S. Jayakumar, Business Manager Consumer Lending, Citibank NA India, said, "This unique finance option enables students to pay for their own education, with the understanding that they can start repaying the cost when they begin earning their first stipend. It helps the students to tide over the problem of financing high-end postgraduate education without depending on their parents, thereby building a strong sense of financial independence and confidence."