OREANDA-NEWS. August 16, 2012. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading IT services, consulting and business solutions organisation, announced its inaugural goIT summer camp in Midland, Michigan – an expansion of the company’s annual goIT programme for students that began four years ago in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Midland camp is designed to foster high school students’ interest in pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Since its launch, the goIT programme has reached out to over 2,000 students across numerous districts through in-school workshops and summer camps.

The TCS goIT programme, which is free for all students, provides in-school IT career and awareness workshops, and hands-on technology education. Throughout the school year, over 40 TCS volunteers conduct workshops and other forms of training to introduce students to cutting-edge technologies and provide IT career education and counselling. The topics covered include basic programming lessons and technology hot topics such as Web 2.0, social media and mobile technology.

During the summer camp, students participate in a series of analytical and interactive challenges related to the IT industry and solve computer science problems. The highlight of the camp is a robotics competition, where student teams program robots under the guidance of TCS mentors and then compete in a series of challenges, such as obstacle courses and automation activities. At the end of the summer camp, students are recognised for their achievements at a parent-student award ceremony.

“At TCS, we know firsthand that to succeed in tomorrow’s workforce, students across America must have a solid foundation in STEM and be fluent in the technologies that will power the global economy of the 21st century,” said Surya Kant, president, TCS, North America, UK and Europe. “That is why we are so proud to expand the goIT programme into new regions of the country, extend its benefits to more students and inspire them to discover their potential to be leaders in science and technology.”

“The ultimate goal of our reinvention in Michigan is to provide employers and employees with opportunities for success in the new economy, Michigan 3.0,” said governor Rick Snyder. “TCS has made a real investment in our young people and in our community through the innovative programme goIT. I look forward to its success in encouraging more students to pursue STEM careers.”

Recent statistics show that over the past decade, university enrollment in STEM-related fields has decreased by over 60 percent in the US; while in 2012 alone, over 1,50,000 tech jobs are projected to be available, leading to roughly 2.5 jobs available for every IT graduate in the US. The goIT programme started in the Cincinnati area four years ago to help combat this negative trend in addition to Midland, Michigan, has also expanded to Columbus, Ohio, reaching over 25 individual schools. In the coming years, TCS plans to expand the goIT programme’s reach to more high school students throughout the US.