News

Volume 3 Issue 11 - June 01, 2005

Agilent Technologies grants 15 scholarships for disabled students

DNIS News Network - Agilent Technologies will grant 15 scholarships for disabled students enrolled with N.C.P.E.D.P., 11 of these will be for a 4-year programme in Engineering Degree-Computers/Electronics and the remaining four will be for a 2-year programme in MBA Finance/Systems/Operations.

Agilent Technologies, Inc. (N.Y.S.E:A.) is a global, diversified technology company focusing on communications, electronics, the life sciences and chemical analysis. Agilent’s worldwide headquarters is situated in Palo Alto, California, and has two entities in India - sales and marketing organisation, Agilent Technologies India Pvt. Ltd., and an IT-enabled services organisation, Agilent Technologies International Pvt. Ltd. (A.T.I.).

The company launched its worldwide Community Involvement Programme: Inspiring Minds, Enriching Lives with Agilent Action Week. Under this programme, the company has undertaken various initiatives. The company also formed and funded the Agilent Foundation, which makes grants, primarily to education-related programmes and disaster-relief efforts.

With regard to the disability sector, Agilent India organised an ‘Abilities Day’ in October 2004. Twelve students with physical disabilities were invited to spend half a day at Agilent India to learn about the different businesses Agilent operates in and its strong employee oriented culture. An official stated, “The event demonstrated the importance of accessibility and inclusion in the workplace, and the wide variety of jobs that make up Agilent’s workplace.”

An Agilent-India executive said they were sponsoring 15 disabled scholars, “as a part of their diversity initiative to identify and provide funds to organisations/NGOs working towards providing employment to disabled students.”

As for access, awareness, and sensitisation regarding the disability sector, Agilent Technologies has an ongoing “Accessibility and Accommodation Programme” - A³P - where its vision is that cultures, laws, policies, perceptions, customs throughout the world reflect the full inclusion of all people, including people with disabilities.“Agilent is committed to continue to raise the level of awareness of accessibility issues within our company, by allowing employees with disabilities to participate today, tomorrow, and the future,” the executive stated.