SDI to Launch Globally-Recognized Soft Skills Training & Certifications in India

SDI to Launch Globally-Recognized Soft Skills Training & Certifications in India

- New International Credentials to enhance training & career prospects for Service Desk Professionals -

New Delhi, April 16, 2008: Service Desk Institute (SDI), the leading professional organization for IT service & support industry, today launched its operations in India in association with Prometric, the leading global provider of comprehensive testing & assessment services. SDI training & certifications are aimed at helping the existing talent pool to scale up & meet the global standards & quality benchmarks in the soft skills space. SDI sets the standards for the global IT support industry, and its training courses and certifications are aimed at helping the existing talent pool to scale up and meet global standards in the soft skills space.

The Indian IT/ITES industry has shown tremendous growth in the past few years and will continue to provide more opportunities to committed players. NASSCOM estimates that the IT industry will have revenues exceeding $60 billion U.S. and will employ 2.3 million graduates by 2010. SDI qualifications are the only qualifications that are driven by an international committee of industry experts, are internationally recognized and are available globally.

SDI certifications help candidates demonstrate to potential employers that they not only understand the best practice standards for their specific job role, but also have the requisite knowledge, skills and competencies to apply them on a day-to-day basis, directly impacting the efficient running of the Service Desk.

With growing need for professionals in the service desk area, it is imperative for candidates to get the right type of training that will help them differentiate themselves and improve their performance. A lack of soft skills has been cited as one of the reasons for high stress, dissatisfaction and high attrition rate amongst the workforce in the IT/ITES industry. It is therefore important for organizations to invest in training & certifying their employees so that they are better equipped to handle the situations that arise at a workplace. Better customer interaction skills, the ability to work as a team and finding ways to become more efficient are essential to handling the demanding nature of these jobs. The entry of SDI into India and the huge untapped market for a global standard in training and certifications for soft skills, signifies the beginning of a transformation within the industry.

Announcing the launch of SDI and Prometric partnership in India, Mr. Howard Kendall, Founder, SDI said, “As the leading professional organization for the service desk, SDI sets the global standards for the IT support industry. India is of utmost strategic importance for the service desk industry, with the majority of world’s IT and Business Process Outsourcing organizations located here. The global IT and services industry needs a consistent skills standard, and the Indian industry will be in a better position to win new and retain existing business if it supports these internationally recognized skill standards. India’s ITES industry is already training its people on Voice & Accent, Domain and Technical skills, but there hasn’t been any on the soft skills. This global standard on soft skill training and certification is what SDI is bringing into India.”

Kendall continued, “It is very important for India’s working service desk community to gain expertise in soft skills as they have become an indispensable part of job. India has an amazing talent pool and with the demand for skilled manpower increasing, it is essential that they are able to improve their skills and offer service delivery to a level that matches global standards.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Paul Grey, Head – UKTI, Northern India said, “I am delighted to see the Service Desk Institute (SDI) enter the Indian market, with a strong and respected partner as Prometric. Together they will help companies tackle a key performance issue: Soft Skills. SDI is very well known in the UK, and brings its track record and excellence to this partnership.”

Also, present on the occasion, Mr. Soumitra Roy, Managing Director, Prometric India) said, “It is our privilege to work with SDI. Prometric’s worldwide relationship for exam delivery has expanded in India to providing marketing support for all SDI Training and certification through its partner network. Candidates have an option to sit for the certification exam at the partner’s site or at any of the 450 Authorized Prometric Testing Centers available across 90 cities in India.”

SDI will offer three levels of qualifications (Training and Certifications), namely SDI Service Desk Foundation, SDI Service Desk Analyst and SDI Service Desk Manager at all Prometric centers across India. SDI’s specialist IT service, support qualifications and training are designed to provide the skill-sets necessary to run an efficient and effective IT service and support operation.

About The Service Desk Institute (SDI)

Formerly The Help Desk Institute. Founded in 1988 by Howard Kendall, The Service Desk Institute (SDI) is the leading authority on service desk and IT support related issues, providing specialist information and research about the technologies, tools and trends of the industry. It is Europe’s only support network for IT service desk professionals, providing service management consulting, customized training courses and qualifications.

Acting as an independent adviser, SDI captures and disseminates creative and innovative ideas for tomorrow’s service desk and support operation. SDI sets the standards for the IT support industry and is the conduit for delivering knowledge and career enhancing skills to the professional community.

It also offers the opportunity for international recognition of the support centre operation through a site certification audit programme. Its members span numerous industries and include Accenture, AOL (UK), Barclays Bank, Computer Associates, ITV, O2, T K Maxx, United Biscuits and YELL Ltd. Further information about SDI can be found at www.hdi-europe.com.

About Prometric

Prometric, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ETS, is the recognized global leader in technology-enabled testing and assessment services and the winner of CLO Magazine’s Learning in Practice 2007 Customer Service Award. Its comprehensive suite of services, including test development, test delivery and data management capabilities, allows clients to develop and launch global testing programs as well as accurately measure program results and data. Prometric reliably delivers and administers tests on behalf of 450 clients in the academic, professional, healthcare, government, corporate and information technology markets. It delivers tests flexibly via the Web or by utilizing a robust test center network in 135 countries. For more information, please visit www.prometric.com.

For further information, please contact:

Manpreet Singh Aashish Verma

Vaishnavi Corporate Communications BDM – SDI

9810286337 9999905669

manpreet.singh {at} vccpl(.)com aashish.verma {at} prometric(.)com