NIIT, SAS forge global alliance to develop talent for emerging Business Intelligence Technologies

New Delhi, July 29, 2008 – NIIT, leading Global Talent Development Corporation, and SAS Institute Inc., a global leader in business analytics software and services market, have partnered to create requisite talent pool in the Business Intelligence technologies, globally. The two companies will work together to offer specialized curriculum for training on BI technologies, for students and professionals, across 34 countries.

Through this strategic partnership, NIIT will offer the first-of-its kind specialized curriculum on Business Intelligence in the country, utilizing SAS software and technologies. NIIT will offer the new curriculum under its flagship IT career program—GNIIT for undergraduates, and Advanced Technology portfolio for Engineers, Graduates and IT professionals, across its network of IT education centres, starting August 2008. 

The new curriculum will introduce students to technologies like Analytics, Programming, Dashboards, Data Mining and Warehousing, under its Business Systems and Information Management track.

Announcing the new initiative, Mr. Vijay K. Thadani, CEO, NIIT said, “Business Intelligence has opened exciting career opportunities for youth around the world. NIIT will address the rising global talent shortage in this area through our alliance with world leader in BI technologies-SAS.”

“Business Intelligence market in India is demonstrating robust growth as BI today has become a strategic imperative for organizations across Industries”, said Mr. Sudipta K. Sen, CEO and Managing Director, SAS Institute India Pvt. Ltd.

”Demand for trained manpower on BI Skills is keeping pace with the BI market growth rates. SAS has been playing pivotal role in bridging this demand through our training initiatives. Our association with NIIT is a significant step in this direction and we believe this alliance would help us in creating quality trained BI specialists who can help organizations in rightly leveraging power of Business Intelligence and analytics”, added Mr Sen.

According to IDC's India Business Intelligence Market Program 2007, the Business Intelligence, Data Warehousing and associated software market stood at US$ 80 million in 2007 and expected to touch US$ 265 Mn by 2012, growing at a CAGR of 27% for the period 2007-2012. The services market around Business Intelligence, Data Warehousing and associated software market stood at US$ 25 Mn in 2007 and expected to touch US$  450 Mn by 2012,  growing at a CAGR of 78% for the period 2007-2012.

About SAS
SAS is the market leader in providing a new generation of business intelligence software and services that create true enterprise intelligence. SAS solutions are used at about 44,000 sites -- including 96 of the top 100 companies on the FORTUNE Global 500® -- to develop more profitable relationships with customers and suppliers; to enable better, more accurate and informed decisions; and to drive organizations forward. For nearly three decades, SAS has been giving customers around the world The Power to Know®. www.sas.com

About SAS India
SAS has been in India since 1997 and has two wholly owned subsidiaries in the country:  SAS Institute (India) Pvt. Ltd. and SAS Research & Development. With a team of more than 400 technology and domain experts, SAS India operations are headquartered in Mumbai with regional offices in Bangalore, New Delhi and Pune. SAS works with organizations across Industries and offers them critical enterprise intelligence to fuel innovation and meet their business objectives.

About NIIT
NIIT, Asia’s No. 1 IT trainer and leading Global Talent Development Corporation, offers learning and knowledge solutions to 5 million students across 34 countries.

Leading IT magazine Dataquest has conferred upon NIIT, the Top IT Training Company Award 2007. Rated among India’s Superbrands (2003-05), NIIT’s Individual Learning Business offerings include: Industry-endorsed programs for students seeking careers in IT: GNIIT, Integrated ANIIT for Engineers (IAE) and Advanced Technology Programs for IT professionals.

For working professionals, NIIT Imperia, Centre for Advanced Learning, offers Executive Management Education Programmes in association with Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) at Ahmedabad, Indore and Kolkata.

NIIT Institute of Finance Banking & Insurance (IFBI), formed by NIIT with equity participation from ICICI Bank, offers programs for individuals and corporates in Banking, Financial Services and Insurance.

NIIT Institute of Process Excellence Ltd., formed in joint venture with Genpact will address the increasing demand for skilled workers in the business & technology services industry by providing training programs in relevant areas.

NIIT offers turnkey IT integration program for schools. NIIT has provided computer-based learning to over 7700 government and private schools.

NIIT’s Corporate Learning Solutions, offers integrated learning solutions (including strategic consulting, learning design, content development, delivery, technology, assessment and learning management) to Fortune 500 companies, Universities, Technology companies, Training corporations and Publishing houses.

Element K delivers learning solutions for customers and partners through a tailored combination of catalog learning products, technology, and services. The offerings include: vLab®: hands-on labs, instructor-led courseware, comprehensive e-reference libraries, technical journals, and KnowledgeHub™: hosted learning management platform.