The programme will be initially rolled out in 100 colleges affiliated to the university and the number of students expected to enrol is 30,000, vice-chancellor Narendra Jadhav said on Wednesday.

The programme will offer orientation and training in the information technology enabled services segment that needs human resources in huge numbers. These will include banking and financial services, insurance and retail, Jadhav said.

The programme contains three modules of 132 hours each, comprising awareness, skill training and employability development, Jadhav said, adding that the students are expected to complete these modules side by side their basic degree education. "The programme is optional, but we are confident that the students will find it relevant," Jadhav said.

Uma Ganesh of Global Talent Track said the outsourcing opportunity for India is very big and we need to prepare the country's youth to take up work that goes beyond call centres and other basic business process outsourcing categories. There will be opportunities in newer areas such as finance and accounting or publishing, she added.

Cisco, in the field of connectivity and networking technology, is the technology partner for the programme.