1st May 2007 13:00
Micro Focus(R) (Micro Focus; LSE: MCRO.L), a leader in enterpriseapplication management and modernization solutions, today announces anew initiative designed to provide students around the world with thelatest technology and tools for enterprise applications development.The new Micro Focus ACademic ConnecTIONs (ACTION) program is designedto provide universities and students with free access software,support, books and courseware and research engagements to train andsupport the next generation of enterprise IT systems specialists. £ The Micro Focus ACTION program aims to create and enhance strongpartnerships with universities worldwide to bring together academicknowledge and industrial experience as well as further research andreal-world projects in management and modernization of enterpriseapplications. In fact, in a recent research paper from Gartner, Inc,the analyst house recommends that "companies that choose to maintaintheir current legacy portfolios must develop a proactive plan formodernization and training."(1) £ "The teaching of COBOL and related enterprise applicationlanguages and tools continues to be relevant in today's mixedprogramming and platform environment," said Dr. Zhenyu Huang,Assistant Professor of Business Information Systems at CentralMichigan University. "Micro Focus is taking an important leadershiprole in ensuring that universities continue to have the latesttechnology at their fingertips to train the next generation of ITprofessionals." £ The ACTION program is already underway in Micro Focus' Center ofExcellence for Software Development in Bulgaria. The University ofSofia is among the first schools to join the new program and willutilize the full range of Micro Focus' academic edition software,including Net Express(R) Academic Edition for developing criticalapplications on the Windows platform, and Mainframe Express(R)Enterprise Edition Academic Edition, the leading PC-based developmenttool for mainframe applications. In USA, the New York City College ofTechnology, University of New York higher education system, will takeadvantage of the new software and courseware offerings. £ Micro Focus currently has more than 300 colleges and universitiesreceiving software and support to ensure Enterprise ApplicationModernisation, core language skills and architectures including SOAare available - supporting students to connect directly with the needsof Industry. £ "I am very excited about this key initiative. It is the first timeMicro Focus has provided free software online with supportingtraining, documentation, books and access to the broad community. Itis part of Micro Focus's responsibility as a market leader andinnovator. ACTION is a crucial step in ensuring that industry issupplied with the best and brightest in enterprise IT systemsprofessionals for years to come," said Stephen Kelly, chief executiveofficer at Micro Focus. "Expanding our current academic programs is acritical component to the continued success of our corporate customersand partners." £ About Micro Focus £ Micro Focus, a member of the FTSE 250, provides innovativesoftware that allows companies to dramatically improve the businessvalue of their enterprise applications. Micro Focus EnterpriseApplication Modernization and Management software enables customers'business applications to respond rapidly to market changes and embracemodern architectures with reduced cost and risk. For additionalinformation please visit www.microfocus.com. £ Micro Focus, Net Express and Mainframe Express are registeredtrademarks of Micro Focus. All other products and companies mentionedin this announcement are trademarks of their respective organizations. £ (1) Vecchio, D. "Impact of Generational IT Skill Shift on LegacyApplications." March 14, 2007. Gartner, Inc. ID G14006492 Copyright Business Wire 2007Related Shares:
MCRO.L