Satyam and Melbourne Uni Sign MOU

Satyam and Melbourne University Sign Memorandum of Understanding


Media release - 18 September 2006

Leading Indian ICT company Satyam and the University of Melbourne have forged an alliance that will result in innovative approaches to student training, employment opportunities and R&D, Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Marsha Thomson said today.

Ms Thomson, who witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two organisations said the alliance was an excellent example of the type of collaborations that are driving growth in Victoria's ICT sector.

"Under its ICT Industry Plan: 2005-2010, the Victorian Government is developing a highly-skilled ICT workforce, and the Satyam-Melbourne University alliance is an excellent example of the collaborations we are facilitating to ensure that the ICT sector continues to compete locally, nationally and internationally," Ms Thomson said.

"Victoria's ICT sector generates $22.9 billion per annum. We have more than 40 percent of the national private sector expenditure on ICT R&D, we employ approximately 30 percent of Australia's ICT workforce and at 39 percent, and Victoria has the largest number of ICT students in Australia.

"Our ICT sector is underpinned by world-class tertiary education and advanced R&D. For this reason, Government is committed to supporting and facilitating dynamic alliances as an holistic approach to the State's growing information economy," said Ms Thomson.

Satyam will recruit between 10 and 20 software engineers a year from the University of Melbourne, who will undergo two to three months training in either Satyam's Indian or Chinese operations. Upon completion, they would be allocated to projects in Melbourne, or other global locations throughout Satyam.

In addition, Satyam will provide software development internships in Satyam’s Indian or Chinese branches for between five and ten students. And the University of Melbourne will give Satyam the chance to play an active role in ensuring that the University’s curriculum is current and training reflects industry needs.

"With ICT evolving at such an exponential rate, this hands-on experience will be a huge boost to students’ training. And, by collaborating directly with industry, the University is able to design curricula to ensure that students are fully job-ready by graduation," Ms Thomson said.

The alliance means that the University of Melbourne will provide Satyam with opportunities to present guest lectures, and it opens up R&D opportunities with the Faculty of Engineering.

"Victoria’s ICT students are being trained in universities that continue to produce excellent graduates. Not only does it make very good business sense for us to take on local students, but it is important for us to support the Victorian ICT sector as a whole," said B. Rama Raju, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Satyam.

With the support of the Victorian Government, Satyam has opened its Global Development Centre in Melbourne, which employs some 300 people and is the company’s largest centre outside India.

The Bracks Government has also facilitated an alliance between Satyam and the University of Victoria, which also gives ICT software development students international experience and practical training.