core sector communique

Tata Interactive Systems has been awarded ‘The Best Multimedia Content provider for K-12 Education’ at the recently concluded eMaharashtra awards

The eMaharashtra awards are instrumental in promoting the most innovative initiatives in the domain of Information Communication Technology (ICT) for Development and to spread awareness about the role of ICTs in addressing social concerns

MUMBAI, 3 May, 2012 – Tata Interactive Systems (TIS), a pioneer and global leader in learning solutions, has been recently honored with the eMaharashtra 2012 Award for the best multimedia content for K12 (jury’s choice). The award and certificate for best multimedia content for K12were presented by Ms Fauzia T Khan, State Minister, General Administration, Public Health and Family Welfare, School Education, Cultural Affairs, Information and Publicity, Government of Maharashtra for. The eMaharashtra award exemplifies Tata Interactive Systems’ commitment towards providing excellent education and superior resources to students.

Sanjaya Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, Tata Interactive Systems, said, "We are happy and proud to receive the prestigious eMaharashtra Award for our multimedia content for K12. Being the world leader in innovative learning solutions, we are uniquely positioned to improve the quality of education imparted to children from under-privileged backgrounds. For India to truly hold its own on the global stage, there is a need to improve the quality of education imparted to children from under-privileged backgrounds, and also to improve their ability to communicate in English. India’s challenge is not just unemployment – but also un-employability of a vast majority of the people of our country who are unable to communicate proficiently in English."

Tata Interactive Systems (TIS) along with Bombay Community Public Trust (BCPT) and NGO Muktangan collaborated to provide high-quality standardized interactive English teaching aids based on the government prescribed curriculum to help children in state-run and private vernacular medium schools overcome the English barrier and become employable.

Tata Interactive Systems (TIS) was responsible for designing and developing the DVDs. Muktangan assisted in guiding the teaching methodology used in DVDs and providing a platform for user-testing. Bombay Community Public Trust (BCPT) helped in fund raising, administration, accounting and project coordination. Apart from these three, Tech Mahindra Foundation also provided financial assistance and NGO Learning Space Foundation helped with distribution of the DVDs in municipal and village schools across Maharashtra. The DVDs have already reached over 75 schools across the state.

TIS took this initiative to improve the quality of education imparted to children from under-privileged backgrounds, and also to improve their ability to communicate in English. The project aims to build English communication skills in under privileged children and overcome inadequacies of English teachers in non-English medium schools. This was achieved by prompting existing teachers to improve their skills and imparting standardized language skills to students through creative electronic learning content with an engaging instructional design approach. It was identified that a strong foundation in English is best built at an early stage – therefore the defined target age-group was Std 1 to 4.

About Tata Interactive Systems

Tata Interactive Systems (TIS) is the global leader in E-Learning Solutions and Simulations. Its learning solutions are designed to enable the success of key organizational initiatives and have proven their effectiveness at more than 60 Fortune 500 companies worldwide. TIS is the only learning solutions organization in the world to be assessed at Level 5 in both the SEI-CMM and P-CMM frameworks. Its solutions have won nearly 50 prestigious international awards over the last 10 years. TIShas development centers in Germany, Switzerland, and India. Its sales and marketing operations span the US, Canada, the UK, mainland Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and India.

About eMaharashtra Awards

The e-Maharashtra Awards have been instituted with the primary aim of felicitating and acknowledging regional initiatives in the use of ICT in Government and Education. The eMaharashtra awards will be instrumental in promoting the most innovative initiatives in the domain of ICTs for Development and to spread awareness about the role of ICTs in addressing social concerns. The Awards ceremony will felicitate efforts made in Maharashtra though the innovative use of ICTs. The aim is to identify and popularise emerging leaders and innovative projects from different sectors of the development community, including the grassroots organisations. The Awards are open for all national and international organisations, civil society organisations, bi-lateral, multi-lateral developmental organisations and enterprises working in Maharashtra who have transformed social development opportunities into a sustainable social enterprise through innovative use of ICTs.

© 2010 Tata Interactive Systems