Mysore: Infosys Technologies on Tuesday expanded the company’s Global Education Centre (GEC) at its Mysore campus, with the inauguration of a second training facility. With the GEC expansion, the company can provide training to 23,500 people at a time, making it one of the largest corporate education centres in the world.
Infosys has invested Rs 2,055 crore in building the campus, since the company was given its first 220 acres by the then Congress government in 1999. The GEC-II, which can provide training to 9,500 employees, has seen an investment of Rs 355 crore.
Infy's commitment to competence
N R Narayana Murthy, chairman and chief mentor, said: "The Education Centre is a testimony of Infosys' commitment to building the competency of our employees." Earlier, Congress party President Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the new building for the centre. CM B S Yeddyurappa was also present.
He said more than 16,000 entrants were trained in 2008-09, and in the current year the company expects to train 16,000 more here. "In addition, special programmes have been conducted at the GEC for students from Australia, Bhutan, China, Columbia, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Panama, Thailand, the UK and the US," he added.
Meanwhile, Infosys is opening a new delivery centre in Brazil as a part of its policy to focus on emerging economies, including South and Latin America. The centre will initially have 50 people, mostly locally hired and will be operational "any time from now", S Gopalakrishnan, CEO of the Bangalore-headquartered company, told Business Standard.
"We are waiting for final approval from the Brazilian government. The centre will primarily help us to support the Brazilian and South American customers," Gopalakrishnan said.
When Sonia bunked 'political classes
Congress president Sonia Gandhi was in a tremendous mood when she visited the sprawling Global Education Centre -II of Infosys Technologies in Mysore on Tuesday.
Speaking after formally inaugurating the campus, Sonia ‘shared’ a secret with Infosysians and other invitees. Unable to hide a smile, she said that she was happy to be at the campus because she was able to "bunk my political classes for over five hours."
Her comments were received with applause and Ms Gandhi could not suppress her smile.
She said she was happy to be at the campus and spent considerable time going round the facility.
Located in the 337 acre Infosys Mysore campus, the total capacity of the centre has been enhanced to educate 14,000 (GEC I - 4,500 and GEC II - 9,500) Infoscions.
GEC II has been created to consolidate learning activities across Infosys at its Mysore campus. Chief Minister of Karnataka B S Yeddyurappa and leader of the opposition, Karnataka State Legislative Assembly, Siddaramaiah were also present on the occasion.
Given its infrastructure and size of operations, Infosys' Global Education Centre is the largest corporate education centre in the world, said a release from the company.
Infosys' total investment in the Mysore centre is Rs 2,055 crore of which Rs 350 crore has been invested in construction of Software Development Blocks and related services and Rs 1,705 crore on education and training related infrastructure.
In 2008-09, more than 16,000 new entrants were trained, and this financial year around 16,000 more are expected to be trained through this program. In addition, special programs have been conducted at the GEC for students from Australia, Bhutan, China, Columbia, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Panama, Thailand, UK and the US."
Source: India Syndicate and BS