Gurgaon: Apeejay Education Society (AES) has announced four new industry focused accelerated learning programmes through its newly commissioned Apeejay Institute of Business Studies. AES currently oversees the functioning and management of 25 educational institutions, thus providing primary and secondary education, formal degree and postgraduate learning programmes.

The new courses are business process outsourcing, banking and retail finance, retail management and software engineering. The programmes will commence from the new academic session beginning July 2005.

Announcing the new courses, professor R P Hooda, director AIBS said, "While the booming sectors of IT, ITeS, banking, finance and retail are showing phenomenal growth, there is a huge demand and supply gap for skilled manpower in these segments. According to studies conducted by NASSCOM, by the year 2008, the BPO industry is expected to employ over 1.1 million Indians. All these facts showcase that a great opportunity exists for today's youth to create successful careers in these identified streams."

The fast track niche programmes range from 9-month modular programme to 18-month (three semesters) programme.