IBM prepares students to meet global software skills demand
ConvergenceAsia staff
09/05/2008

IBM has announced a new programme to help university students in Asia enhance their skills to complete in a global market. The new programme will allow students at more than 2,100 institutions in India, China, Singapore and Vietnam to enhance their credentials and better compete for the growing number of technology positions available in the region.

For a discounted rate of $30, students at universities across these four countries now have access to 25 Web-based exams covering IBM's Rational software delivery portfolio. Twenty-two different certifications are available in emerging technology job areas such as architecture management, change and release management, process and portfolio management, and quality management.

IBM plans to offer this discounted certification testing to students worldwide starting in the second half of 2008.

Said Jim Corgel, general manager of IBM’s ISV and Developer Relations, “In Asian countries such as Vietnam, the IT industry is anticipated to be a key driver of the local economy. By expanding this programme to the region, we are developing a loyal community of highly skilled certified professionals who continue to innovate around open standards and collaborative technologies.”

In India and China alone, the number of certifications has increased an average of 5 per cent. Interest for certifications in Vietnam and Singapore is expected to rise at a similar pace as these emerging markets continue to attract global IBM customers.

At Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) in Singapore, more than 157 students have attained IBM certifications with 60 certified on Rational Application Developer for WebSphere Software.

In China, IBM offers Rational curriculum support to more than 50 partner universities, covering 20,000 students each year.

IBM also recently announced its DB2 Certified Professional Program, offering DB2 9 Fundamentals certification exams free of charge and provides a 50 per cent discount on all IBM WebSphere, SOA and XML certification exams.

IBM’s Academic Initiative provides courseware, software, instructor preparation, discounts on certification testing, and a résumé database to increase student exposure to IBM customers and business partners.

For more information, visit:
http://www.developer.ibm.com/us/en/university/students/opptysystem/index.html

Faculty members of the Academic Initiative can access 250 course modules at no cost, including 56 courses on Rational software, at: http://www.ibm.com/university/scholars/academicinitiative

For more information on IBM’s Rational certification program, visit: http://www.ibm.com/certify/certs/rl_index.shtml 

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