NIT-T teams up with UK varsity

National Institute of Technology–Tiruchi (NIT-T) and Brunel University, UK, have embarked on a project on ‘Management Capacity Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), under the UK-India Education Research Initiative.

While SMEs in India contribute 45 per cent of the industrial output, 40 per cent of exports, and 42 million in employment with additional one million every year, thereby registering higher labour to capital ratio, they do not benefit from globalised collaborations for incorporating contemporary management practices in the same way as large organisations do.

The project will aim at comprehensive development of the management capacity of SMEs to manage current businesses better and exploit business opportunities in overseas market, according to the project leaders, G.Kannabiran, Professor of Management and Dean (Research and Consultancy), NIT-T, and Keith Dickson, Professor of Management and Deputy Head, Brunel Business School, Brunel University, UK.

The programme involving survey of SME training needs, train the trainer programme, and development of a website with capabilities of social media interactions among SMEs/ trainers will be on SMEs in manufacturing/ fabrication sector, Prof.Kannabiran told reporters on Tuesday following a discussion with the UK team represented by Prof. Keith Dickson and Prof. Ashley Braganza on finalisation of major deliverables.

Topics covered by the training would constitute business planning, international marketing, financial management, contract and legal systems, supply chain management, human resource management, leveraging information technology, and understanding of technological developments, he said.

BHEL, Tiruchi, BHEL Small Industries' Association (BHELSIA), Indian Institute of Management–Tiruchi (IIM-T), and Uxbridge College, UK, constitute other partners of the project of 30- month duration.

IIM-T Director Prafulla Agnihotri, NIT-T Director S.Sundarrajan, BHELSIA president Rajappa Rajkumar, Additional General Manager – Outsourcing at BHEL T.V.Krishnan, alumnus and Founder Director of Ceeyes Metal Reclamation S.Ananthakrishnan, participated.