Noida, India – May 10, 2011 – HCL Technologies Ltd. a leading global IT services provider, and Madras University, a premier academic institution in the country, today jointly announced an initiative that allows First-Right-to-Placement to HCL Technologies to 1.5 lakh students in 120 colleges across three districts of Tamil Nadu affiliated to the Madras University. In the first phase of this program branded ‘Lakshayam – Powered by HCL’, 300 students from Madras University have already been hired by HCL while ‘Letters of Intent’ have been extended to 1,000 more Madras University students.

Under the ‘Lakshayam – Powered by HCL’ program, HCL will conduct employability drives for students across various disciplines at the Madras University campus and at the campuses of its affiliated collages. Selected candidates will be extended Letters of Intent to undertake a three month On-the-Job-Training at HCL’s Business Services division. During the training period, students would be paid a stipend and on completion of training, these students would be put through operational assessment. On successfully completing the operational assessment candidates would be inducted into HCL as full-time equivalents.

“I am delighted with this exclusive partnership between HCL and Madras University. HCL as an organisation has always been committed to developing new platforms for improving employability and growth opportunities for the youth of the country and this partnership is yet another testimonial of our efforts in this direction,” said D K Srivastava, Corporate VP & Global Head, HR, HCL Technologies Ltd.
 

“This partnership with the Madras University is in line with HCL’s agenda to strengthen collaboration between industry and academia towards bridging the skill gap for the ITeS industry. The scope of this alliance is designed to further enhance the quality of the ITeS talent pool and thus raise the global employability of Madras University graduates,” said Subrat Chakravarty, HR Head – Business Services, HCL Technologies Ltd.

“Madras University is one of the oldest universities of southern India. This University has been growing from strength to strength while widening its teaching and research activities and has over 1.5 lakh students across our affiliated colleges. We are extremely proud and happy to associate with HCL as it goes forth and pioneers powerful initiatives to build capability and employability in the youth of India,” said Col. Dr. G. Thiruvasagam, Vice Chancellor, Madras University. HCL is known worldwide for its excellence in human capital management. Its philosophy of ‘Employees First, Customers Second’ has been recognised by academics, analyst and experts across the globe for its pioneering emphasis on employees as the focal point of the organisation. The company has previously been declared India’s No.1 Employer by Hewitt Associates and has also been adjudged amongst the top 25 employers in APAC by Hewitt and amongst UK’s TOP Employers by CRF Institute.

HCL Technologies is a leading global IT services company, working with clients in the areas that impact and redefine the core of their businesses. Since its inception into the global landscape after its IPO in 1999, HCL focuses on ‘transformational outsourcing’, underlined by innovation and value creation, and offers integrated portfolio of services including software-led IT solutions, remote infrastructure management, engineering and R&D services and BPO. HCL leverages its extensive global offshore infrastructure and network of offices in 26 countries to provide holistic, multi-service delivery in key industry verticals including Financial Services, Manufacturing, Consumer Services, Public Services and Healthcare. HCL takes pride in its philosophy of ‘Employee First, Customer Second’ which empowers our 73,420 transformers to create a real value for the customers. HCL Technologies, along with its subsidiaries, had consolidated revenues of US$ 3.3 billion (Rs. 15,160 crores), as on 31 March 2011 (on LTM basis). For more information, please visit www.hcltech.com
 

HCL is a $5.9 billion leading global technology and IT enterprise comprising two companies listed in India - HCL Technologies and HCL Infosystems. Founded in 1976, HCL is one of India's original IT garage start-ups. A pioneer of modern computing, HCL is a global transformational enterprise today. Its range of offerings includes product engineering, custom & package applications, BPO, IT infrastructure services, IT hardware, systems integration, and distribution of information and communications technology (ICT) products across a wide range of focused industry verticals. The HCL team consists of over 80,000 professionals of diverse nationalities, who operate from 31 countries including over 500 points of presence in India. HCL has partnerships with several leading global 1000 firms, including leading IT and technology firms.

For more information, please visit www.hcl.com

The University of Madras is one of the three oldest universities in India and is situated in the southern city of Chennai (formerly known as Madras). The university is organized on the model of the University of London, was incorporated on 5 September 1857 by an Act of the Legislative Council of India, and is regulated by the University Grants Commission of the government of India. It has been given the status of "University with Potential for Excellence" by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The University has been accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with the five star rating first, and later with an A rating. The University imparts both Under Graduate and Post Graduate Education through the Affiliated Institutions which are spread over the districts of Chennai, Thrivallur and Kancheepuram. Apart from teaching, research activities in Arts, Humanities, Science, Management and Technology are the main portals at the University. The University has six campuses in the city and over 50 departments offer a range of subjects. For more information, please visit www.unom.ac.in

Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward looking statements, including but not limited to the statements containing the words 'planned', 'expects', 'believes', 'strategy', 'opportunity', 'anticipates', 'hopes' or other similar words. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding impact of pending regulatory proceedings, fluctuations in earnings, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services, Business Process Outsourcing and consulting services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, customer acceptances of our services, products and fee structures, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, our ability to integrate acquired assets in a cost effective and timely manner, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, the success of our brand development efforts, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies /entities in which we have made strategic investments, withdrawal of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, and unauthorized use of our intellectual property, other risks, uncertainties and general economic conditions affecting our industry. There can be no assurance that the forward looking statements made herein will prove to be accurate, and issuance of such forward looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by the Company, or any other person, that the objective and plans of the Company will be achieved. All forward looking statements made herein are based on information presently available to the management of the Company and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company.

Patricia Sridhar

Mob: +91 96000 48422

Email: patricia.sridhar@hcl.com