PRESS
INFORMATION ISSUED ON BEHALF OF:
Software Education Associates Ltd
PO Box 38-998, Wellington Mail Centre 5045, NEW ZEALAND
Tel: + 64 04 568 7806 (NZ)/ 0800 268 773 (UK)
Web: www.softed.com
6th October 2008
Software Education provides big opportunity for companies to grow IT
training expertise
In today's climate - of depressed financial markets around the world -
highly developed business analysis skills are at a premium. So, in the
light of growing demand around the world for these IT-related systems
skills, Software Education Associates - Australasia's premier training
organisation specialising in professional-level, software development
training is planning to 'internationalise' its highly successful
courses.
Earlier this year, the global analyst firm, Gartner, warned of a
worldwide shortage in IT personnel as the coming generation shun the
industry because of a perceived lack of glamour and a reputation for
hard work. Gartner believes that the current shortage is different from
the skills gap that emerged in the dotcom era, as it affects all areas
of the IT industry and not just specific technical skills.
A study carried out by National Computing Centre in the UK about the
same time revealed that the skills shortage in the IT industry had
increased from a 4.2 per cent shortfall in people last year to 6.8 per
cent this year - the highest in the past decade. The study also
revealed that some 73 per cent of employers which had indicated the
need for new skills plan to acquire them by re-skilling and training
existing staff.
"We are well placed to help employers meet this challenge," said
Software Education's managing director, Martyn Jones. "We currently
offer a wider range of courses for those involved in software testing
or in business analysis than any other training provider in the
southern hemisphere."
In the analysis, requirements and design space, Software Education
offers seven course titles endorsed by IIBA™ (the International
Institute of Business Analysis).
The company's flagship course, 'Business Systems Analysis', runs
approximately once a week in Australasia. Software Education also
provides an online assessment tool for business analysts, 'BA Assess'.
"In addition to 'Business Systems Analysis', which provides a practical
grounding in the subject, we offer a range of more advanced training
options, depending on learners' needs," Jones added.
Software Education also has other courses accredited by the
International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) - which is
responsible for the international qualification scheme called 'ISTQB
Certified Tester'.
"We offer 12 software testing courses," Jones said. "These can be used
to enable learners to achieve ISTQB certification - both Foundation and
Advanced.
"As befits our market leading position, we have developed an exclusive
partnership with Rex Black, one of the world's leading test
specialists," he continued. "Rex is currently the President of ISTQB
and a seasoned international trainer and consultant.
"This is where we are different. We employ the very best practitioners
across the globe to run these programmes.
"For example, Software Education can offer lots of options, including
Masterclasses with internationally respected 'gurus' including James
Bach, Dorothy Graham and Robert Sabourin."
Already, over 3,000 people have successfully completed at least one of
the company's courses. With its proposed expansion into the
international market for business analysis skills, Jones predicts that
this figure could easily double in the next year or so.
For further details of Software Education's web-delivered training
courses, email info@softed.com or
visit www.softed.com
end
About Software Education
Software Education is Australasia's pre-eminent provider of
professional-level, software development training. With offices in
Wellington, Brisbane and Sydney, it offers over 50 course titles, a
range of specialist software development conferences and consulting to
many of the region's largest and more sophisticated software
development groups. Its vendor-independent, quality-driven courses are
all available for on-site delivery, while the more popular subjects are
run on a public basis.
Software Education was formed in February 1990, as a result of a
management buy-out of Datacom Education from Datacom Systems, one of
the region's largest IT services organisations. In 1991, Software
Education bought Digital Consulting Pacific Pty Ltd in Sydney from its
USA parent, and started running conferences.
In March 1997, Software Education sold its majority-owned subsidiary,
Software 9000 Ltd, to Rational Software Corporation in the USA. This
company then became Rational NZ.
In July 2000, Software Education sold its training management business,
run out of Software Education Asia Pacific Ltd, to Pathlore Software
Corporation in the USA.
In January 2005, Software Education acquired Australian training
organisation DP Education.
Software Education's largest customers include nearly all the major
players in the Australian and NZ financial sector, government
departments, airlines and telcos, international IT companies,
manufacturers and e-Commerce organisations.
Further information from:
Software Education Associates Ltd, + 64 04 568 7806 (NZ)/ 0800 268 773
(UK)
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, + 44 (0) 1727 860405;
bob.little@boblittlepr.com