Computer education major NIIT has decided to scale up its China operations both qualitatively and quantitatively to meet the growing information technology manpower needs of the communist giant, senior company officials said in Beijing.

"We will expand our operations in China qualitatively and quantitatively. We have decided to look at those needs which the Chinese are finding it difficult to meet. For example, software engineering and project management," Chairman, NIIT, Rajendra Pawar said.

"Based on our good track record, our goal in China is to move forward carefully and steadily," he said.

"We are looking at various aspects of China's manpower requirements in the IT sector. We are also carefully looking at China's education system, especially information technology education in schools, colleges and what role can NIIT play."

NIIT, which commenced operations in China in 1997 has a 'very strong' foundation and is now ready to engage the Chinese market in all dimensions, Pawar said after meeting with China's Minister of Education Zhou Ji as well as senior officials from the ministry of information industry in Beijing.

"Now we want to engage them (the Chinese) in a more comprehensive way in all dimensions," Pawar said, adding that NIIT's IT education segment has witnessed impressive growth in China.

NIIT now operates 125 centres in 25 Chinese provinces and the courses have been widely accepted by the students as well as the industry, Pawar said.

"We have earned the trust and respect in China. Our preparations have been good," he said, adding that NIIT has been very mindful of Chinese sensitivities while forming partnerships with the government departments, universities, academia and enterprises.

This is the first time Pawar as well as the CEO of NIIT, Vijay Thadani are visiting China at the same time, company officials said, indicating the importance NIIT is placing in its growing relations with China.

"The main purpose of this visit is to take stock and look at our growth going forward," Pawar said while noting that NIIT has been doing its 'homework' for quite some time and discussed it with the industry as well as the government.

"What we have ready now is a curriculum for China which we have discussed with the Chinese education minister. From our point of view, we are ready on that, which is kind of a landmark. Now we have to work out the rollout mechanism of this programme," he said.

As part of this plan, NIIT has initiated an interaction with three groups of people -- the leadership of China (Minister of Education, senior officials in the Ministry of Information Industry), higher education (presidents and vice-presidents of Qinghua University and Beijing normal university, Jia Tong University, Shanghai) and the software industry.

Pawar and other company officials also met senior provincial government officials in central China's Hunan province and discussed ways to promote mutual cooperation.