EMPOWER – Ericsson’s University Relationship Program

“From a concept to reality in few months”

It feels like just yesterday when we started brainstorming on the idea of developing a talent pool
through training to meet the growing demands of the telecom Industry and especially Ericsson.
And now, not even a year later, we already have 300 students trained, 161 certified and more
than 335 hired through Ericsson’s University Relationship Program, EMPOWER during 2009-
2010.

In September 2009, under EMPOWER Brand, EXCEL certification program was launched by
Ericsson India’s President, Gowton Achaibar. EXCEL is a first of its kind initiative in the Indian
industry. It is a customized telecommunication certification program that combines practical
knowledge with simulated training, to empower and make young telecom engineers industry
ready quickly. It will also help bridge the growing demand supply gap for telecom professionals.

Ericsson joined hands with 12 engineering institutions and launched the certification program for
providing training in the telecom sector to create value for the students, industry, institutes and
society. This blended training program approach is a mix of web based training and seminars
adding up to 70 hours delivered through online learning, class room sessions, site visits and a
certification examination by our own delivery experts.

"EXCEL is a strategic move to bridge the deficit of contemporarily skilled telecom professionals in
the industry. We aim to use this forum to build a healthy academia-industry partnership with
leading institutions to not only reduce demand and supply gap but also benefit the entire student
fraternity. Besides helping the industry access market-ready talent, the programme will enable
students to gain valuable real life perspective," Achaibar said addressing delegates at the launch
of the University Relationship Program in 2009.

“It is one of the few programs where the industry is training our students and there is no
commitment, no conditions attached to this training. This is very high quality training we are
talking about.” Prof. Dheeraj Sanghi, Director LNMIIT, Jaipur.

“This particular program filled up the very essential need of our students, being able to become
productive as quickly as possible when they join industry.” Prof. Swaran Ahuja, Vice Principal &
Head of Electronics & Communication Department, Institute of Technology Management,
Gurgaon.

Through EMPOWER Brand, Ericsson maintains relationship with students and Universities in 3
phases.

• CONNECT – Internship opportunities at Ericsson for students

• EXCEL - Telecom training opportunity to students
• CAREER – Job opportunities with Ericsson through the Trainee Program.

It is designed to give students the maximum exposure possible and keep them involved with
Ericsson for an entire year.
To build on and take the relationship forward and to the next stage, Ericsson is re-launching the
University Relationship Program during 2010 – EMPOWER with 40 Universities/ Technical
Institutes selected all over India.

During the 1st phase, CONNECT Internship Program; Ericsson has selected more than 200
students from these 40 Universities. They are being provided internships in various departments
under different project mentors across its offices in India. This will help students get an exposure
and have hands on work experience with Ericsson.

At the launch of the 2nd phase, EXCEL Certification Program, Ericsson will select 40 students
from each of the 40 Universities across India and will impart training to 1600 students. Ericsson
Certification is a ‘General Telecom Certification’ and is not specific to Ericsson Products.

Finally, during the last phase, CAREER - Campus Hiring Program, Ericsson will, depending on
the internal forecast for the year 2011-2012 hire fresh trained resources for the organization that
will be ready to deliver from Day-1.

“The EXCEL certification program is actually just a beginning. Our long term vision about this
program is that beyond certification we should be able to bring in as many students as possible to
do internship Projects with Ericsson, across our locations, getting exposure to various services
that we deliver to our customers. And we would ideally like to follow it through with campus
recruitment program and trying to bring in as many students into the company, as employees, as
possible and who are ready to deliver from day one.” Girish Johar- Vice President- HR & O –
Ericsson India Pvt. Ltd.

“Radio frequency planning is a much sought after subject for which faculty is not available. We
got the faculty from here, the people who are actually dealing with this problem.” – Lt Gen P D
Bhargava- Director General – Amity Institute of Telecom Technology and Management, Noida.

This program has helped Ericsson gain visibility among the Telecom Students Community and
also helping prepare ourselves for fulfilling bigger global demand for resources from RINA and
through the India GSC.

Amit Sharma
Program Manager
EMPOWER – University Relationship Program