Outsourced software product development services provider Persistent Systems said it recently started its campus initiative Techstart a programme launched to help students learn bleeding-edge technology and to provide a practical channel to their creative talent.

The Techstart programme is focused towards Computer Science studentsto help them spend their time meaningfully, making themselves industry ready and thus enhancing their employment opportunities. This initiative was conceived by Anand Deshpande, chairman and managingdirector, Persistent Systems last year.In 2009, Techstart offered students training in cloud computing onMicrosoft Azure platform while this year the programme will focus on imparting training in software testing.�Over 60 hours of training will be offered in this programme, leading to ISTQB (The International Software Testing Qualifications Board) certification. 300 students from 30 Engineering colleges from Pune including MIT, Sinhgad Institute and Cummins will be benefitted by this programme.