New Delhi, May 15 (UNI) Information Technology trainer NIIT will set up 100 networking learning centres in another two years, targeting students in the IT infrastructure management segment.

''We will come up with 100 specialised networking learning centres in another 24 months,'' Mr G Raghavan, President, Global Individual Learning Business, NIIT told reporters here today.

Mr Raghavan said NIIT will make an investment of eight crore rupees on these centres.

Meanwhile, NIIT today opened its first networking learning centre here, which will offer training programmes in networking and infrastructure management technologies. The centre is also equipped with Network Labs, first of its kind in the country.

''The industry is facing shortage of skilled professionals in the networking and infrastructure management space. NIIT's industry endorsed network labs training programmes have been designed keeping in mind the current trends and emerging networking technologies and provides the learners an edge to take up jobs in the emerging sector,'' Mr Raghavan said.

According to industry reports, the hardware deployment and support market in Asia Pacific, leaving Japan, is estimated to grow at a compounded rate of nearly eight per cent to six billion dollars by 2010, he said.

While this sector shows high potential opportunity, the recent IDC survey has cautioned the industry about possible shortfall of nearly one lakh professional as against the need for about three lakh skilled professionals in another two years, Mr Raghavan added.

UNI