Wipro to expand internship programmes for SA students

Wipro to expand internship programmes for SA students

Wipro, Information Technology major is planning to expand the intake of graduates for its internship programmes to be held in South Africa. In its second year in 2013, Wipro's local internship programme had enrolled a total of 70 graduates. It is now set to increase the number to 150.

The applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds for internship programmes will have to go through entrance exams and interviews with local Wipro leadership. This process will be followed to test attitudes to learning and technical aptitude.

Wipro informed that after the completion of initial three months of theoretical training, the interns will be interviewed for an apprentice role on various live projects.

After being placed, the interns will be provided with a supervised on-the job training and mentorship for three months. Then their performances will be reviewed based on which the qualifying candidates will be absorbed into Wipro's operations in South Africa.

"The internship programme is becoming a crucial enabler of Wipro's growth in Africa. For us, the programme is about nurturing talent for local leadership and ensuring that we have the right people on board -- people who understand local culture, local markets and local customers across the African continent," Wipro senior vice president, Human Resources Saurabh Govil said.

"The programme offers a very high chance of being absorbed into the company - the first batch of 30 interns from 2013 is now employed full-time at Wipro," he added.