The Hindu Business Line : Strides programme to hone staff skills

EMPLOYEES of the city-based pharma major Strides Arcolab can now get an MS degree through distance learning from one of the country's best-known higher education centres.

Strides said it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with BITS, Pilani, for an `off-campus collaborative programme'. It has launched a new initiative called STEP (Strides Training & Education Plan) to hone the managerial skills of its predominantly technical personnel.

BITS has designed a special curriculum for Strides based on the current needs of industry and the distance learning programme will be flexible in content and delivery.

"As a first step we intend to offer our employees an opportunity to acquire an MS in Pharma Operations & Management while on the job. This would enable them to learn as they earn and put into practice the theoretical concepts in their daily work," Mr Arun Kumar, Group CEO of Strides Arcolab, said. An internal pre-qualification round by the company will select the candidates for the programme.

The export major of branded generics is one of the few early birds in the sector to have such a HR-oriented programme.

"We consider this partnership as a significant step to upgrade the technical competencies of our people and fully prepare them for the competitive challenges ahead," Mr Kumar said.

Strides' "HR vision of aligning employee aspirations with corporate goals intends to facilitate such learning on the job at any level."

The company expects this initiative to help it attract and retain the best technical talent.

The BITS Vice-Chancellor, Mr Venkateswaran, said: "The basic requirement for the successful implementation of such collaborative programmes is the participation of the collaborative organisation - by extending physical and other facilities and by agreeing to integrate their work requirements with the academic requirements of the institute."

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