New Delhi, Mar 3: Global banking giant Standard Chartered Bank today said it is joining hands with Pune-based business school Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (SIMS) for a one-year management course aimed at nurturing talent for the retail banking space.

UK-headquartered Stanchart, which is the largest foreign bank operating in India, and SIMS today signed a memorandum of understanding, pursuant to which SCB's Consumer Bank Academy and SIMS would jointly offer the Post Graduate Program in Retail Banking and Sales.

The students enrolled for the programme would all be absorbed by the bank and also get on-the-job training. They also will have an opportunity to earn while working as they would be provided stipend during the internship, the bank said in a statement here.

"The demand for talented people in the banking and financial services sector far exceeds the supply. In this partnership, the bank will bring its knowledge and understanding of the banking domain, and SIMS, the ability to nurture talent. Together, we aim to create professionals who are the best in the retail banking sector," Stanchart's Regional head of consumer banking (India and Nepal) Murali M Natrajan said.

The programme would enrol a minimum 300 students this year.