Centum Learning signs MoU with Whistling Woods International and launches specialized course in creative arts and sciences in collaboration with Whistling Woods

New Delhi, India, March 08, 2010: Centum Learning Limited, a Bharti associate company signed a MoU with Whistling Woods International – Institute for Film, TV Animation & Media Arts (WWI) which is promoted by Mukta Arts Limited and Filmcity Mumbai. This vertical specific programme would be offered by Centum Learning Limited this fall to build professional skills among students aspiring to join the booming Media and Entertainment sector in the country.

The programme aims at providing inputs to students relevant to the Media and Entertainment industry so that they can function effectively in the challenging media scenario across formats. The programme not only aims at providing knowledge and skills in different functional areas of media and entertainment industry, but also focuses on overall personality development of students.

Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice Chairman Bharti Enterprises said, “The service sector with its myriad opportunities and challenges requires a talent pool that can drive and sustain its growth. Through Centum Learning Limited, Bharti Group is playing its part in skilling the youth of our country. We see ourselves playing a major role in the development of the country and making it the skill capital of the world”.

Speaking on the tie up and the course, Sanjeev Duggal, CEO and Executive Director, Centum Learning Limited said “Our collaboration with Whistling Woods International is yet another step forward that endorses our commitment to world class quality in education. By partnering with Whistling Woods International, we are hoping to redefine the landscape of education and training that is offered in creative arts and sciences globally. Centum Learning’s expertise in the training and development combined with Whistling Woods International’s forte in media and entertainment space will create a very formidable alliance in the educational space”.

For the graduate programmes, the students will study at the Centum Learning urban campuses for the first 5 semesters and the last semester will be at the Whistling Woods Campus in Mumbai. Similarly, for the post graduate programs, students will study first semester at Centum Learning urban campus and last semester at the Whistling Woods campus in Mumbai. The eligibility criteria for a student to apply for these courses will be 10+2 for graduate programmes and a bachelor’s degree for the post graduate programmes. The last semester at the Whistling Woods campus is envisaged as an internship project writing period to provide complete hands on exposure in chosen area of their specialization. Detailed information is also available at the company website www.centumlearning.com

Subhash Ghai, Chairman, Whistling Woods International added “Our partnership with Centum Learning is a significant step for us, as we continue to expand our footprint to ensure that we have the skills & talent to take charge of booming media & entertainment industry that’s growing over 12% annually and has likely to touch $20 billion by 2013. We are very excited about this tie up and look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship”

According to a report by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and KPMG, the media and entertainment industry in India is likely to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.5 per cent per annum over the period between 2009-13 and touch US$ 20.09 billion by 2013. This requirement of the sector will be immense in terms of skilled manpower.

Ravi Gupta, Executive Director, Whistling Woods International added “Media & Entertainment industry is at the inflection point and India has a long way to go as far as its share in the world market is concerned. We produce the maximum number of movies in the world, but our share in global revenues is less than 5%. We need people who are creative at the same time mean business. Our association with Centum Learning is a step to ensure we produce better media managers to ensure new innovations keep happening in the media space”.

Centum Learning has also launched other vertical specific programmes, in collaboration with reputed universities to build professional skills among students aspiring to join the service sector. The programmes offered include two year M.B.A. Business Applications, M.B.A. Communications, three year B.B.A. Business Applications, one year Diploma in Telecom, Diploma in Sales Management and Diploma in Insurance and Diploma in Banking and Finance. It is again a step in the direction of fulfilling goals of meaningful literacy and full employment in our country.

About Centum Learning Limited

Centum Learning, a Bharti Associate, provides end-to-end learning and skill-building solutions for several leading corporates across the country. It provides solutions that impact business performance through enhanced employee productivity, customer profitability and effective talent transformation.

Its solutions cover the entire spectrum ranging from Custom Content Development, Training through Blended Learning Programmes, Executive Coaching, Performance Coaching to Process Management and Certification besides building employability skills for the service sector at the entry level.

In the skill- building domain, Centum Learning Limited has set up more than 100 Centum Learning Centres (earlier known as Bharti Resources Learning Centres) spread across India, to provide higher order employability skills and bridge the existing talent gap in the service sector. Apart from setting up Centum Learning Centres, it has launched vertical specific programmes targeted at meeting the requirements of skilled manpower in many sectors of the industry. It endeavors to create Centum Learning Certification as a national standard for employment in the services sector.

Centum Learning has been adjudged as one of the ‘Top 15 Emerging Leaders in Training Outsourcing’ 2009 Worldwide.

About Whistling Woods International

Promoted by Subhash Ghai, Mukta Arts Limited & Filmcity Mumbai, Whistling Woods International is Asia’s largest Film, Television, Animation and Media Arts institute, providing world-class education in all technical and creative aspects of Film & Television, offering courses that vary in duration from 10 months to 30 months, in the areas of Acting, Animation, Cinematography, Direction, Editing, Producing, Screenwriting and Sound. Whistling Woods International also offers, in association with Manipal University, India’s first MBA in Media & Entertainment.

The full-time faculty of Whistling Woods International is a body of academics and industry professionals with regular guest lectures by leading Indian & International filmmakers, actors & technicians like Rakeysh Mehra, Vishal Bharadwaj, Ashutosh Gowarikar, Farhan Akhtar, Ashok Amritraj, Shyam Benegal, Farah Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Ratna Pathak Shah, Danny Boyle, Rajkumar Hirani, Nagesh Kukunoor and several more.

Whistling Woods graduates are currently working with several leading media organisations like Balaji Telefilms, Channel 31 Australia, Dharma Productions, Excel Entertainment, 20th Century Fox India, Mukta Arts Limited, Paprikaas, Prana Studios, Red Chillies Entertainment, Spice Entertainment, Walkwater Films and several more.

Whistling Woods’ continues strongly on its path to be the institute of choice for media education globally.

For additional information, please visit www.whistlingwoods.net.