Mumbai: BPO major Accenture has joined hands with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to launch a training programme for technical employees.

The training, being imparted by MIT''s office of Professional Education Programmes (MITPEP) and the Accenture Solutions Delivery Academy will cover a certification programme based on application delivery curriculum.

"The programme, which covers application, analysis and testing, is aimed at "bridging the critical gap between demand and supply in the IT workforce and will act as an interface between industry and academia," said Accenture group chief executive (outsourcing) Kevin Cambell.

The programme, spread over 18-24 months each, effectively combines training in areas of technology, methodology and professional skills with on job experience, he added.

The programme offers certificates in application design and application development, said Accenture delivery centre lead executive Sandeep Arora.

Accenture''s training and R&D spends in FY''06 is $700 million and $250 million respectively, Campbell said, adding, "the programme will mean 300 hours of training per person for the first two years."

About 20,000 Accenture employees are eligible for the programme, making it the largest such initiative taken by MITPEP. The first participants are expected to receive their certificates in August, he said.

"So far 4,000 employees from India have already enrolled for the programme and India will be the largest consumer of the programme," Arora said.