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Information Technology
Information
Technology is a wide term broadly covering the areas of computer science,
electronics and telecommunications. Over the last few decades there has
been a tremendous growth in IT, which has almost revolutionised the very
outlook of the world. The economy of any country is no longer measured by
strength of traditional industries, but by its technological advancement.
It is estimated that knowledge based businesses would contribute
two third of the growth in global GDP in the next ten years.
In
a developing country such as ours IT makes it possible to leapfrog many of
the physical barriers and deliver basic needs like education to people in
areas that either do not have facilities or are inaccessible. With the
decreasing cost of instruments and services like personal computers, cell
phones and internet, direct benefit of IT sooner than later would be
reaped even by the illiterate and disadvantaged.
Unlike
the traditional industries the IT sector is people intensive and creates
vast employment opportunities. It is estimated that total size of IT
industry in India will cross US $ 1000 billion by 2008 and become single
largest contributor to the GDP. There are presently about 300,000 computer
professionals working in the country, and as per a NASSCOM study this
number is expected to grow and reach 22 lacs i.e. almost a quarter
million, by the year 2008. This would however include professionals for
the hard-core IT sector as well as for the IT enabled services,
The
‘Web’ component of the IT sector is going to be perhaps the most
dominant. We are already witnessing that even the traditional business
functions like trading a transactions have gone online. A recent survey
has showed that there are already more than 3.75 million ‘netizens’ in
the world. This increasing popularity of net-culture has created new kind
of careers. In India this especially holds true since by 2004 we are going
to be second only to China in usage of Internet. The various types of job
functions available in a typical net-based environment would be content
development, graphic designing, e-commerce, strategic planning, business
development and so on.
Educational
Qualification:
The
best option for entering the world of computers is a degree course in
engineering or computer science. Software jobs including that of System
Analyst require an engineering degree with postgraduate diploma in
computer applications or postgraduate degree in computer applications
(MCA). However a good graduate degree in any field is an essential basic
requirement for undergoing training in programming for commercial/business
and scientific/technical applications.
Most
engineering colleges offer BE/B.Tech courses in computers. These are
4-year courses, which combine study of computer hardware and give adequate
training in systems software. Since jobs opportunities are better in
software development many computer-engineering graduates work in software
development, as systems software engineers, system analysts and
application software professionals. However there are other professional
courses in the area of software as well.
MCA
is a postgraduate course of 2 to 3 years open to graduates from any stream
but those who have a good mathematical background have an advantage. B.Sc
in Computer Science is an under graduate course which gives a theoretical
base for a career in computers. However the course contains less of
practical training. Diploma in Computer Applications is a one-year diploma
course that covers the basics. It is not considered good enough in the job
market.
To
guide prospective software students the Department of Electronics
Accreditation of Computer Courses (DOEACC) scheme was initiated by
Government of India in the early 1991 to introduce some sort of method
into the computer training so as to bring quality standardization at all
levels. There are four levels of courses under this scheme.
‘O’
Level is a foundation level course, which would certify a candidates’
competence as a programmer assistant or equivalent level. Minimum
qualification required for doing the course is 10+2.
‘A’
Level is the advanced diploma level course and certifies a candidates’
skill as a programmer. Then comes the ‘B’ Level course, which is a
graduate level course, and this course will give certification to the
candidate for proficiency as a systems analyst or software engineer.
The course duration at the approved institute should be equivalent
to a three-year full time course.
‘C’
Level Course will recognize the candidates’ proficiency a systems
manager. The course duration at the recognized institute should be
equivalent to full time 18 months.
There
are 1032 institutes in the country which offer IT courses with an intake
of 66,214 students per annum. In addition, IITs, IIITs, IISc Bangalore
have an intake of nearly 1200 students in their IT courses. All these
institutions offer courses in electronics, microelectronics, and
telecommunications. Whereas some of the students from these courses go for
hardware jobs, it is estimated that more than 50% of them migrate to
software services and more than 30% of the graduates from other
disciplines as well migrate to software services. As per the Ministry of
Information Technology estimates, for the IT enabled services non formal
sector itself has capacity for training 5 lakh students per annum apart
from the BCA, BIT courses offered through distance education programmes by
the recognised open universities. It is estimated that as a result of
special drive undertaken by the government to increase the intake in the
existing courses as well as to introduce new courses in IT, nearly 16,000
seats are likely to be added during 2000-2001.
It
is pertinent to note here that IT is not the domain of only the engineers,
those with humanities and commerce backgrounds can as well pursue BCA/MCA
and various other AICTE approved or certified courses and enter the sector
as professionals. Therefore there are many ways to get into this sector.
Obviously those with engineering backgrounds would corner the best jobs
but there are equally attractive opportunities for others as well
especially in the IT enabled services. Even professionals from other areas
like accountancy, architecture and applied arts etc can learn computer
skills, to enhance their career prospects and create a niche for
themselves.