Aim to Expand the Use of Java Technology and Provide Tools to Enable Students and Teachers to Broaden Their Knowledge of Computer Technology

Sun Microsystems, Inc. the creator and leading advocate of Java (TM) technology, today announced that the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), in collaboration with the Java Italian Association (JIA), have finalized an agreement to extend the knowledge of Java technology within Italian schools by providing online access to Java training courses for students and IT teachers.

The project, called “Java a Scuola” (Java at School) is part of a framework of initiatives sponsored by MIUR to enhance the quality of teaching by applying multimedia technology. As the use and penetration of Java continues to grow, the Italian education authorities are keen that future generations are equipped with the Java skill sets that will be demanded by business. The initiative builds on Sun’s track record and commitment in effectively promoting the use of technology in education.

The agreement provides free access to and use of material relevant to Java including CD ROMs and online training programs. Additionally, Sun will work with the Java Italian Association to provide free tutoring programs to IT teachers for twelve months.

“We are excited about expanding this fruitful partnership with Sun which was successfully started in 2003 to provide a free Java technology education program dedicated to high school students and teachers,” said Alessandro Musumeci, IT Managing Director of the Ministry of Education, University and Research. “With the ‘Java at School’ program, MIUR will make tools available to students and teachers who require them for the completion of the European Certification of IT Professionals (EUCIP).”

Java technology, that Sun developed more than ten years ago, has represented a significant breakthrough in development and in Information Communication Technology. It has enabled developers to create independent computer and Operating System applications.

Today, there are more than 4.5 million Java developers worldwide, 50,000 of which are in Italy. In addition, 580 million Java-enabled devices (phones, PDAs, etc.) are used, while over 90% of Web users interact with Java everyday.

The Java language is particularly well suited for academic programs. From the perspective of students and future software developers, Java applications are easier to learn and create compared to other programming languages.

“The initiative promoted in 2003 was very successful, generating approximately 2700 subscription requests in one year,” said Adriana Modaudo, District Sales Manager, Public Sector, Sun Microsystems Italy. “This demonstrated the need to bridge the gap between supply and demand for Java skills. ‘Java a Scuola’ represents the next, more comprehensive stage of the program and we expect interest to be high from IT teachers and technology students.”

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

A singular vision — “The Network Is The Computer”(TM) — guides Sun in the development of technologies that power the world’s most important markets. Sun’s philosophy of sharing innovation and building communities is at the forefront of the next wave of computing: the Participation Age. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the Web at sun.com.

NOTE: Sun, Sun Microsystems, Java and The Network Is The Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

Mark Richardson
Sun Microsystems, Inc.
650-257-4038
mark.richardson@sun.com

Source: Press Release

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 22nd, 2006 at 9:19 pm and is filed under Education. Tags: Education, Student. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.