In order to keep abreast of latest technologies and tools and to make use of Information Systems developed by NIC in various sectors, special emphasis is laid on users’ training. NIC realizes the importance of ICT training as key to the successful implementation of computerization projects and the E-Governance initiatives.
NIC is known all over the Country for its training services in the field of ICT. Training at NIC has proved to be immensely beneficial for the personnel at Ministries and Govt Departments at all levels in bringing about cultural and attitudinal change with regards to computerisation. From awareness creation among senior officers, to routine programming and operational training of the staff at working level, NIC’s training facilities encompass all kinds of courses for government functionaries.
The Headquarters
The Training Division at NIC HQ provides a strong platform for upgrading professional knowledge/ skills of NIC professionals, who in turn play a leading role in integrating state-of-the-art technologies in the working of various ministries/ departments. NIC offers immense training opportunities in well planned and professionally managed training courses, not only on various computer related topics, both in English and Hindi, but also on the application of IT in key sectoral areas. Department of Personnel and Training, and Department of Official Language are sponsoring some of these courses. Besides, NIC also takes up number of customized courses catering to the specific training needs of an organization - Government Departments, Autonomous Bodies, Public Sector etc. on request and chargeable basis.
State/ Union Territory Units
The training activities have also been extended by State/UT Units. Full-fledged training facilities have been set-up at many of the State Unit Headquarters and these facilities keep on augmenting. The State Units offer additional courses to meet the local training requirements. Some of the State Units also organize programmes sponsored by Department of Personnel & Training. Many of the State Units offer programmes in Hindi including some of the programmes sponsored by Department of Official Language.
District Centres
The District Centres also impart training as part of on-going projects.
LBSNAA, Musoorie
In addition, NIC has also set-up a specialized training centre at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, to cater to the training needs of regular recruits of Indian Administrative Services.
Types of Training Programmes
NIC training activities are broadly classified as Government Informatics Training Programme for the end-users, Technology Update Programmes for NIC professionals and Customised programmes for the Corporate Sector.
Government Informatics Training Programme
The following categories of training programmes are offered for the benefit of officials from the Government Ministries/ Departments from Central Government and State Governments including some programmes for the Corporate Sector.
Executive Development Programmes
This series of programmes is meant for middle and senior management of Ministries /Departments. These are being organized for creating awareness about Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and realising the potential of ICT for working towards E-Governance initiatives of the Government.
Office Productivity Tools
These programmes are meant for working level officials of Government Ministries / Departments for imparting necessary skills in Windows based office productivity Government tools and Linux Open Office Suite. Advanced courses on Windows based Office Productivity Tools have also been introduced keeping in mind the growing needs of the users.
DoP&T Sponsored Programmes
The Department of Personnel & Training sponsors a number of programmes in Utilisation of IT Tools in Government for potential trainers identified by various Ministries / Departments to aid the process of computer literacy in respective Ministries/ Departments. This year the focus has been on new training areas i.e. e-Governance where a number of programmes/ workshops are being planned.
Sectoral Development Programmes
Sectoral programmes focus attention on Ministry/Department specific Application packages & Information Management Tools developed by NIC.
Computer Programmes in Hindi
These training programmes are for promoting the use of Hindi in computers for preparing documents & processing data. An advanced computer programme in Hindi has been introduced this year. Some of these programmes have been sponsored by Department of Official Language (DOL).
Technology Update Programmes for NIC Professionals
In order to keep NIC professionals up-to-date in emerging technologies, training programmes/ seminars are offered in the following broad technology areas - Linux, Networking, Windows 2000, Web Technologies, OOP, Databases, Application Development, GIS, Software Engineering and E-Governance.
Customized Programmes for the Corporate Sector
As part of corporate training, NIC has been conducting a number of customized training programmes for the benefit of various organizations - Government Departments/ Autonomous Bodies/ Public Sector on request and payment basis. The charges for such training programs depends on the topics, duration and the batch size (maximum 25 participants). These programs are tailor-made as per the training requirements of the user organizations. Requests for customized programs may be made to the training In-charge by giving the details regarding topics to be covered, duration and the number of people to be trained.
IT Learning Centres
The Training Division at HQ had undertaken a pilot project in collaboration with Department of Personnel & Training in successfully setting up IT Learning Centres at Ministry of Personnel. Similar activities were also initiated at the Department of Consumer Affairs and Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Spectrum of Technologies Covered
The training programmes offered by NIC covers a wide spectrum of technologies both for the end-user and the NIC professionals which are being listed below.
Operating Systems
Windows 2000 Linux
Office Productivity Tools
MS-Office 2000 Leap Office Open Office Suite
Data-base Technologies
SQL Server MYSQL MS-Access
Application Development Programming Tools
Visual Basic C++ J2EE XML PHP
Networking
LAN Wireless Networking Mobile Computing
Internet/ Intranet Technologies
Software Engineering
Software Quality Standards Software Project Management Software Configuration Management
GIS & Image Processing
Network & Internet Security
Digital Certification
MEDLARS
Biomedical Research & Internet On-line Searching of Bio-medical Databases
Utility Mapping
State-of-the art Training Infrastructure
• Most modern training facilities including well designed class rooms, state-of-the-art computer labs having internet connectivity for providing hands-on training. • Networked Client Server architecture with multiple operating systems - Windows 2000/ LINUX. • High speed Satellite based Internet connectivity • Multi-media Videoconferencing and DirecPC broadcasting facility • Variety of software tools and e-learning/ tutor packages
Training Division Website
The Training Division at New Delhi has a dedicated web site (http://training.nic.in) with the following components :
• Information about training services of HQ as well as State Units • Publishing of Courseware • Bulletin Board for exchange of ideas • e-Learning packages • Information of nominations of NIC professionals for Seminars / Conferences • Information on in-take of Student Trainees, which NIC takes from various academic institutes
Teaching Faculty
NIC Training Division has its own permanent faculty drawn from leading professional institutions and having years of training experience. The faculty keep themselves up-to-date on the emerging technologies while working and using latest technologies. Subject experts from NIC support groups and guest faculties are also invited wherever it is necessary.
Training Methodology
Over the years, NIC has perfected the art of introducing new technologies successfully. It makes use of the state-of-the-art audio visual equipments, computer based tutor packages and well designed work books. The teaching methodology comprise lecture cum live demonstration, discussions followed by practice sessions or field visits. Extensive use of case studies and group projects are being made to facilitate adult learning. The man-machine ratio is kept 1:1 during practice sessions.
• Course Material Preparation/ Distribution
Well designed work-books on Windows and office productivity tools including e-mail has been prepared in-house and printed copies are available to all the state units to facilitate adult learning. In addition standardized course material for other courses has been very well designed which may include lecture notes, reference material, in-house compiled workbooks, assignments and project work. The course material gets updated from time to time in accordance with the latest version of software. In order to share the course material with other state units, it has been published on the Training Division Website.
• Course Evaluation/ Feed-back Analysis
At the end of each programme, strength and weaknesses of the course are discussed and participants feedback is taken. Their feedback is being implemented in the subsequent courses. Feedback is also received from the ministry through NIC officers. It has been observed that participants who have been trained in these programmes are being used in the implementation of Information Systems developed by NIC very effectively. Many of the new courses are being introduced as a result of the feedback received from HoDs and the participants.
The Training Division at New Delhi is also planning to initiate web-cast of lectures from the training division halls in the near future.
e-Learning Initiatives
NIC fully realizes the potential of e-Learning technologies. It has taken the initiative of assessing e-learning products for use within the organisation. This would make vast amount of e-learning materials available on the intranet/ internet to all officers of NIC.
Accolades…….
This what some of the participants say about our training programmes….
• Network setup in the lab is excellent • Faculty is excellent and technically very well competent • Way of teaching using PowerPoint presentation was excellent • I am impressed by warm and cordial environment of Training Division • Faculty response was very good to clear all doubts. • Training division faculty has put extra efforts to make the participants understand the concept of application development through a programming language. • Excellent and very well designed work books for hand on sessions. This type of structuring, you will not get in the books available in the market
The average rating received from the participants on the overall quality of the courses organized by NIC calculated on a scale of 4 is given below :
Course Course Teaching Practical Usefulness Classroom Computer Overall Structure material Faculty Orientation of course Facilities facility Impression 3.50 3.60 3.57 3.39 3.62 3.81 3.78 3.56
Training Statistics for some NIC Centres during the past year (April 2002-March 2003)
NIC Centre No. of Courses No.of Participants NIC HQ 77 1611 A&N 21 236 Andhra Pr 44 886 Assam 42 906 Chattisgarh 26 450 Chandigarh 42 432 Goa 22 382 Gujarat 33 976 J&K 2 65 MP 42 723 Maharashtra 45 1112 Orissa 13 225 Sikkim 5 136 Tamil Nadu 122 1479 Uttaranchal 25 500 West Bengal 29 456 Total 548 9669