Source Name: Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.

TCS goIT Prepares America’s Youth for 21st Century Tech Careers

Seventh Annual goIT Program Expands to 20 U.S. States, Inspiring Students’ Interest and Persistence in STEM Education and Careers

Jun 25, 2015 16:45 IST

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Tata Consultancy Services (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organization, today announced the expansion of its goIT student technology awareness program to 20 U.S states, reaching cities such as Phoenix, AZ; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Newark, NJ; Bloomington, IL; San Antonio, TX; Denver, CO; Jacksonville, FL; Charlotte, NC and Edison, NJ.

Launched in Cincinnati, OH, in 2009, goIT is TCS’ signature education program in North America, through which employees teach design processes, computer programming and mentor youth to increase career awareness in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematic (STEM) fields. This year, goIT will reach students, in 27 cities across the U.S. and Toronto, Canada; especially those from underrepresented groups, minorities and girls.

By 2018, there will be eight million STEM jobs in the U.S., with 80 percent of the fastest growing U.S. occupations requiring STEM skills. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), between 2013 and 2023, there will be two jobs available for every graduate with a Computer Science (CS) degree, and more than 1.4 million jobs created by 2020 that require CS and programming skills. However, there are only 400,000 expected college graduates with the needed CS skills to fill those jobs.

Speaking at the mid-June goIT event at TCS’ largest U.S. office in Milford, OH, alongside 75+ local high schoolers, Ohio Congressman Brad Wenstrup said: “Preparing our youth with 21^st century skills is one of the most important investments we can make for our economy. Programs like this that inspire students to explore the fields of STEM and computer science give them a competitive edge on the pathway to college and career readiness, and are invaluable to America’s future workforce.”

TCS offers goIT free of cost for middle and high school students—covering career awareness workshops, hands-on technology education, teacher training, and parent orientation. At goIT, students learn icon-based programming languages as they engage in a hands-on, project-based learning environment. Students engage critical thinking and problem-solving skills, while troubleshooting designs and collaborating in teams along with their peers.

“I believe a career in STEM represents the new American dream; providing wage, gender and social equity, along with an opportunity for upward mobility and economic prosperity. Therefore equipping our youth with technology skills and career readiness improves our competitiveness as a nation,” commented Surya Kant, President of North America, U.K. and Europe, Tata Consultancy Services. “It is our Chairman’s vision that 25 percent of the world’s population will feel Tata’s commitment to improve the lives of our stakeholders by 2025. Through goIT we are contributing to that vision, and planting the seeds for tomorrow’s leaders, today.”

Since its launch, the goIT program has engaged more than 8,800 students across 12 cities and 93 schools. In fact, 70 percent of participants reported an increase of interest in STEM careers, and goIT participating schools reported a 27 percent increase in high school students choosing STEM disciplines in college. In 2014, goIT attracted more than 1,800 new students and engaged more than 350 employee volunteers, resulting in 20,000 hours of high-impact skill building and computer science programming for students.

About Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (TCS)

Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting and business solutions organization that delivers real results to global business, ensuring a level of certainty no other firm can match. TCS offers a consulting-led, integrated portfolio of IT, BPS, infrastructure, engineering and assurance services. This is delivered through its unique Global Network Delivery Model™, recognized as the benchmark of excellence in software development. A part of the Tata group, India’s largest industrial conglomerate, TCS has over 319,000 of the world’s best-trained consultants in 46 countries. The company generated consolidated revenues of US $15.5 billion for year ended March 31, 2015 and is listed on the National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange in India. For more information, visit us at www.tcs.com.