Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), one of the world’s leading IT Consultancy firms, has teamed up with IT Carlow’s Computing & Networking Department and the Carlow Enterprise Board to pilot a competitive academic integration programme, the first of its kind in Ireland.  Students from the Institute’s Honours Degree in Computing IT Management will compete for a cash prize, an internship in a TCS innovation laboratory and a fast track interview to TCS.  The launch of the challenge took place in the Institute on Wednesday 23rd September and was attended by over one hundred eager students.

Ciara Keville HR Manager from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) who attended the launch comments “We are delighted to team up with IT Carlow and Carlow County Enterprise Board in the inauguration of the Tata Challenge. Through this initiative we look forward to building strong relations with the Computing and Networking Department at IT Carlow. TCS is proud to support technology students as a key part of our future growth.”

The Tata group has recently made the headlines with its acquisition of Jaguar and Landrover. Since the group’s inception in 1868, Tata has been characterised by philanthropy, donating over 30% of its net profits towards community social causes. Most unusually, 66% of the company is owned by charitable holdings. With the support of Michael P Kelly, Carlow Enterprise Board, to partner with IT Carlow, TCS is challenging the 4th year Computing and Networking students to use their commercially focused and innovative technical skills over the coming 24 weeks, to devise an ethical solution to an issue within their respective communities.

 “The collaboration with TCS is a significant development for Carlow given the global scale of diversity of Tata’s activities.  It is an important first step, which over time may lead to considerable economic benefits for Carlow.  No doubt the IT Carlow students will use their computing skills, initiatives, innovation and creativity in coming forward with ideas and solutions for the Tata programme.  We are looking forward to working with IT Carlow and Tata in building on the collaboration,” comments Michael P Kelly, CEO, Carlow County Enterprise Board.

Enda Dunican, Programme Director, IT Carlow comments “This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to be given the chance to work with a multinational of the calibre of Tata.  With this project the students will understand how ethical as well as technical issues are becoming important for large multi-nationals.  Tata acknowledged the Institute’s computing IT Management Degree with its unique blend of business IT was the main reason IT Carlow was chosen for this competition.”