iCarnegie Press Release

Newport Business Institute Launches New Software Development Education Program in Partnership with iCarnegie, Inc.

Program provides cutting edge software skills to traditional, adult and minority students

PITTSBURGH, PA and LOWER BURRELL, PA June 9, 2003 -- In order to provide students with today’s most “in-demand” computer skills, Newport Business Institute (Newport) is now offering a cutting edge Computer Programming curriculum in partnership with iCarnegie, Inc., an educational affiliate of Carnegie Mellon University. iCarnegie provides software development curriculum and skill certification programs that prepare students for careers in software development. These certificates can lead to a variety of career opportunities, including computer programmer, programmer/analyst, system designer or software engineer.

The iCarnegie program provides state-of-the-art software development curriculum, along with teacher training and support services to keep faculty on the leading edge of technology. Newport instructors will present the material in a classroom setting. In-class work is complemented by iCarnegie’s Web-based assignments as well as online certification tests and student-teacher feedback.

Helping Traditional Students and Working Professionals
This partnership between Newport and iCarnegie provides students with unprecedented access to up-to-date, first-rate curriculum designed by Carnegie Mellon University faculty and iCarnegie computer education experts. The individualized curriculum is geared toward the easy access and convenient scheduling that is demanded by traditional students and working professionals alike.

Meeting the Demand for Software Developers
“According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than a million software development professionals will be required by 2010 to meet the nation’s growing need for computer programming. For this reason, more and more students are seeking software development skills for workforce preparedness,” said Mike Choma, Academic Dean of Newport Business Institute. “The iCarnegie program is ideal for us in that it has the flexibility to cater to our two-year students, as well working professionals who are seeking to upgrade their skills to become more valuable and productive in the workforce.”

“iCarnegie applies Carnegie Mellon’s unique expertise as one of the highest ranked software development universities in the nation. iCarnegie development and support of the curriculum helps our faculty keep pace with rapid changes in technology,” Choma continued. “We provide our knowledge of how best to teach, advise and support each particular student. This combination makes for optimal learning.”

The Internet-based features of iCarnegie courseware allows students to learn at their own pace while the student/teacher interaction provided by Newport Business Institute provides the encouragement and motivation students need when they are working on difficult projects or assignments. Newport’s iCarnegie graduates will be equipped with the technical and organizational skills that are most relevant to the needs of businesses today and will allow them to create robust software products.

Hands-On Courses Leading to Professional Certificates
iCarnegie’s curriculum provides ‘hands-on’ practical knowledge together with an understanding of the fundamental principles that underlie the most current computer technologies, so as to better prepare students for current and future IT issues. The iCarnegie curriculum offers two levels of education and certification — a Certificate in Computer Programming and a Certificate in Software Systems Development. iCarnegie courses are designed to appeal to and be accessible to students with a variety of backgrounds, including those with little prior computer programming experience. The only prerequisites for the program are basic computer knowledge and high school level mathematics.

“By engaging in a partnership with iCarnegie, we can offer high quality Software Development education programs to a large and diverse group of students much more quickly then we could on our own. This partnership enables us to work cooperatively with iCarnegie to create a dynamic curriculum that advances IT education for our students,” said Bryant Mullen, President of Newport Business Institute.

“Our mission is to support our partners’ faculty, to provide them with Web-based curriculum, and to help them keep pace with the continuous changes imposed by industry demands and technology advances,” said iCarnegie President and CEO Allan Fisher. “Our unique partnership approach helps educational institutions like Newport provide their students with a quality software development curriculum wherever, whenever and however they learn best.”

About Newport
Newport Business Institute, www.newportbusiness.com, has been providing leading business education and industry training for over a century. Newport Business Institute provides industry-specific training to students through its Business Administration and Administrative Assistant programs. Newport combines an interactive classroom setting with hands -on experience to provide the foundation for career success. At Newport, students are equipped with a laptop computer, keeping the latest business technology only a point and click away. A specialized curriculum, convenient schedule and learning environment, experienced faculty and commitment to student success have distinguished Newport as a leader in business education and technology for over 100 years. For further information, contact Newport by e-mail: info@newportbusiness.com or phone: 800-752-7695.

About iCarnegie
iCarnegie, Inc., is an educational affiliate of Carnegie Mellon University. iCarnegie was founded in 1998 by President & CEO Allan Fisher, Ph.D., and Executive Vice President Philip Miller, Ph.D., to help Carnegie Mellon share its technology and educational resources with other educational institutions. iCarnegie provides faculty development and Internet -based curriculum and certification to educational institutions and employers throughout the US and internationally. For further information, contact iCarnegie by e-mail: info@icarnegie.com or phone: 412-622-2150.

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