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Novell Introduces One-Stop Shop to Make IT Training More Comprehensive and Accessible Endorsed by Netscape and Oracle, new InfiLearning Centers to provide full-service career management, support services, and multivendor training; Sun, Netscape among first to offer courseware PROVO, Utah -- June 18, 1997 -- The company that revolutionized information technology training is doing it again. Through the new InfiLearning Center program, Novell, Inc. is making it easier than ever for people to obtain the skills necessary to support the latest information technologies and for education vendors to offer the most complete multivendor curriculum available today. Introduced at Edge 97, Novell Education's fourth-annual channel partner conference, InfiLearning Centers bring together products and services from vendors across the IT industry to create one-stop shops for technology training. Training on Netscape, Microsoft, Lotus, and Sun Microsystems technologies are among those being added to Novell's industry-leading education program. In addition, InfiLearning Centers will combine career counseling, financial aid services, curriculum management tools, learning and assessment products, online training, and post-training support. New and expanded delivery methods, such as online and multimedia, enable InfiLearning Centers to meet the customer demand for enhancements to self study and classroom training. "IT training has changed significantly since we pioneered the industry ten years ago," said Bob Puissant, vice president and general manager, Novell Education. "As the industry leader, Novell Education has the power to make the InfiLearning Center become the catalyst in the IT training industry's shift to multivendor integration and delivery services. The InfiLearning Center is the customer-centered universe for individuals and organizations to find the information and training they need where, when, and how they want it. We are embracing the industry and capitalizing on the obvious: it is not a single-vendor world." Netscape Communications Corp, NetObjects and Sun Microsystems are among the first to add courseware to an InfiLearning Center program. The Certified Internet Professional is the industry's first multivendor Internet training and certification program, providing skills training across diverse platforms. The jointly sponsored Internet program allows for customization of training curriculum to match the student's network system environment. It is scheduled for release in late summer 1997.
Meeting Market Demands Novell Education is the undisputed leader in IT training and certification. Novell-authorized training programs have taught over 2.5 million instructor-led (ILT) courses resulting in over 300,000 certifications granted. Another 200,000 are in progress. ILT is currently the preferred method of training, however customers are asking for options. Novell test exit surveys reveal that customers typically use 2.3 different training methods to prepare for certification. By the year 2000, International Data Corp predicts technology-based training options will command 35 percent of the total $27 billion IT training market. Online training alone is predicted to grow at a rate of 147 percent. The InfiLearning Center offers multiple solutions to give customers exactly what they need to accomplish their goals. Through the addition of a retail point-of-purchase display, self-paced courses including multimedia, text book and video are available. Set for year-end release, online training combines the convenience of self-study with the benefits of ILT. Multimedia-based training from CBT Systems and NETG is available now on CD and will include courses on Novell, Sun, Netscape, Cisco, Marimba, Powersoft, Microsoft, UNIX and Lotus. Video courses support Novell's Advanced Technical Training. Books from Novell Press can be used alone or as a supplement to ILT and work well with new practice labs which complement ILT and self-study methods, giving customers hands-on experience using concepts covered in course material. Career Counseling, Planning and Management New tools make it easy for customers to investigate, plan and manage IT careers. An InfiLearning job bank will facilitate access to a listing of current career openings that can be searched by area, salary range, job title or required qualification. Organizations may post job opportunities and search for prospective employees. Individuals may post resumes and search for career openings, then give prospective employers access to their personal InfiLearning Web site to view their resume, training experience and testing information. Diagnostic tools make it easy for customers to assess current technical knowledge and skills on Novell- specific and multivendor technologies. Learning preferences, demographics and career objectives are then examined to create a blueprint of recommended courses and training methods to fit individual needs. InfiLearning Centers are given the tools to create their own InfiLearning Web sites that give customers information about the vendors they feature, the courses and modules they offer, course descriptions, and CBT, video and workbook materials they sell. The main InfiLearning site is linked to the centers' sites and provides customer leads. InfiLearning Centers can also offer customizable InfiLearning Web sites to individuals and organizations for use as a training management tool to track progress toward a training goal. These sites enable customers to save, access and manage all of the InfiLearning tools and resources, such as the job bank and the blueprint, from one centralized point. Support Services New support services will keep the customer connected with current information. Virtual conferences will be held regularly and auditoriums will feature prominent industry leaders. Chat lines will also be incorporated. Existing services such as certification benefits, libraries and online technical support are improved to provide access to all participating vendors from one place on the InfiLearning Web site. Opportunities for NAECs and InfiLearning Centers Today Select NAECs attending this year's Edge conferences have the opportunity to participate in four new pilot programs: Advanced Technical Training focuses on advanced technical issues that face engineers, support personnel and developers; PowerSell, Novell's sales training program, prepares sales professionals to certify as a Certified Novell Salesperson (CNS); modular courseware enables InfiLearning Centers to customize course offerings to meet customer demand; new "print-on-demand" distribution system for student kit materials results in lower inventory levels, decreased kit costs, reduced shipping time. NAECs Embrace the InfiLearning Center The new worldwide InfiLearning Center channel will build on the strength of over 1,450 Novell Authorized Education Centers (NAECs) and Novell Education Academic Partners (NEAPs) around the world. At Edge 97 in Puerto Rico, over 200 NAEC sites participated in the initial launch of the InfiLearning Center. Edge 97 conferences will also be held this month in The Netherlands and Malaysia. With 195 centers in 24 countries, New Horizons is among the first to enthusiastically embrace the new channel, its products and services. "As the world's largest network of NAECs, it is exciting to see Novell evolve to meet the customer's needs," said Chuck Kinch, president and COO, New Horizons Computer Learning Centers, Inc. "The new direction that Novell has taken with the InfiLearning Center maps directly to the vision of our computer training integrator philosophy that is at the heart of New Horizons' future. To date, more than 40 of our NAECs have agreed to become InfiLearning Centers, embracing the concept and the opportunities it will provide our customers." New Horizons expects to add more centers when the Edge conference reaches Europe and Asia. "We are pleased to see such strong commitment from one of our largest partners, validating the InfiLearning Center and the value it will deliver to the customer," added Puissant. Novell Education Background The pioneer in IT training programs, Novell Education has been certifying industry and network professionals since 1989 and continues to be the industry innovator and leader. Novell Education has driven literacy and global acceptance of Novell products and technologies, while also certification programs that have become de facto global standards. Worldwide, there are currently 180,000 Certified Novell Administrators (CNAs); 115,000 Certified Novell Engineers (CNEs); 7,000 Master CNEs; and 5,000 Certified Novell Instructors (CNIs). The new Certified Internet Professional program is growing steadily since its September 1996 availability with over 800 individuals certified or in progress. Founded in 1983, Novell (NASDAQ: NOVL) is the world's leading provider of network software. The company offers a wide range of network solutions for distributed network, Internet, Intranet and small- business markets. Novell Education and technical support programs are the most comprehensive in the network computing industry. Information about Novell's complete range of products and services can be accessed on the World Wide Web at http://www.novell.com. Novell, NetWare and IntranetWare are registered trademarks. CNA, Certified Novell Administrator, CNE, Certified Novell Engineer, IntranetWare CNE, Master CNE, CNI, Certified Novell Instructor, Novell Certified Internet Professional, Certified Internet Professional, CIP, NAEC, Novell Authorized Education Center, NEAP and Novell Education Academic Partner are registered service marks, service marks or trademarks of Novell, Inc., in the United States and other countries. Other product and brand names are trademarks of their respective owners.
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