SARBHANG

Written by M.B. Subba, Gelephu    

Mar 05, 2009: Gelephu’s second computer institute, Himalayan institute of information and technology(HIIT), which was opened a few months ago, has been providing an alternative to the Gelephu youth. 

Kuenzang institute of information and technology was only the sole player in Gelephu before.

HIIT, recognized by the department of information and technology (DIT), has about 45 students with two instructors at present. Proprietor 

Bhakti Ram Acharya expects to increase the services and the number of instructors in future.

“Though we wanted to enroll more students and in-service learners even at the initial stage, we have not been able to attract enough due to inadequate advertising,” he said. 

Talking about the vision of the institute, the proprietor said: “Here we serve people with an idea of making the society computer literate.”  He said the objectives of the 

institute is to support,  innovate ICT workforce development opportunities for students and adults and increasing ICT knowledge for in-service people.

The institute offers courses ranging from two-week crash courses to 18 month-diploma courses in various disciplines like diploma in information technology. 

The proprietor who is also one of the faculty members of the institute has invested around Nu 300,000. 

Though he said the feedback from the learners was encouraging, some of the residents are unaware about the existence of the institute.

The location of the institute at Norkhil Lam, which is at the end of the main town, may be bit of a disadvantage. It is picking up slowly as 

the number of learners is increasing.

The institute is cashing on the fact that the employers always seek recruits having computer knowledge. “Employers want computer knowledge before employing us,” said a learner.

Source: Bhutan Today