NIIT, on Tuesday, signed an MoU with Ministry of Information Technology, Chongqing, world’s largest city in terms of population, to spread IT education amongst its universities. Chongqing is the main city in Sichuan province, China.
The initiative will help universities in Chongqing to integrate ‘NIIT inside’ programme in their curriculum. Through this partnership, the two will jointly work towards creating a complete academic framework for attracting and creating a large base of skilled manpower in information technology in the city. The aim is to make the city a hub in the emerging knowledge-based economy. “With this initiative we will look into spreading IT education among the students,” said Vijay K Thadani, Chief Executive Officer, NIIT Limited talking to Deccan Herald.
Managerial talent
On the domestic front, alongwith IT training, NIIT has also recognised the need for skilled and middle level managerial talent in India. For this NIIT has launched in September 2006, the NIIT Imperia centre to offer executive management education programmes in association with IIM at Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Indore. The course spans from 4 months to 1 year (for working professionals) and fees range from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1.94 lakh. 
NIIT has also started the Institute of Finance, Banking & Insurance (IFBI) to cater to manpower needs of the growing financial services sector in India and overseas. This course in collaboration with ICICI Bank is for 3 to 9 months including an internship.  On expansion plans, Mr Thadani said, “Our overall capital expenditure both national and globally is Rs 70 crore for 2007. We are looking at a capex of Rs 55 crore for next year.” NIIT also plans to expand the above centres to China as well most probably starting next year. It has plans to expand its centres from 14 to 20 across the country by year-end and aims to have about 75 centres in next three years.