‘Think global, expand globally’ seems to be the mantra for companies in the education space.

Aptech, the third-largest player in the IT education space in India, already has a presence in five continents. It is also planning to ramp up its presence abroad - a slew of new centres are slated to spring up in Pakistan, Russia, Vietnam, etc.

According to R Krishnan, executive director, the company would set up 35 more centres for providing computer education, courses in animation and multimedia education in CIS countries like Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and others like Vietnam and Pakistan.

“We have about 365 centres outside India which deliver IT-based education and courses in games development and animation. The potential for IT-based education is tremendous in those countries and they constantly look for people who can create and deliver software.”

Krishnan adds that the IT education market in these countries, as also in Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa and Fiji, is growing at 15-20% approximately and would only continue to grow in future. On the other hand, in India, the IT training and education market is growing at 25% per annum.

In China, where Aptech entered in 2000 through a 50:50 joint venture with Beida Jade Bird, a local partner, it has set up 250 centres and has cornered a third of that market. At Rs 170-180 crore of revenues, the Chinese operations contribute 40% of Aptech’s consolidated revenues.

The company would follow the franchise model for its expansion and thus the business partners in the various countries would invest for setting up the centres, adds Krishnan.

Besides setting up animation and IT education centres, the company will also set up five international N-power centres, which provide courses in networking and system engineering in Asia and Africa.

“We currently have only one N-power centre abroad in Vietnam. Our new N-power centres would help in scaling up our niche segments.”