Despite Continuing Instability, Baghdad University Partners with Certiport to Lay a Foundation for Advancing Digital Skills

Iraqi institution becomes first in country to offer globally recognized certification program; university will train and certify 10,000 instructors and employees and 80,000 students in Certiport IC�

BAGHDAD � October 26, 2007

Certiport today announced Baghdad University has been approved to become the first to administer its globally recognized, performance-based certification exams in Iraq. Employing the Certiport Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC³®) program, the university plans to develop and validate the digital literacy skills of up to 10,000 instructors and employees during a three-year period. Certiport solution provider BNR will administer the training and certification to instructors before the program is offered to the university’s 80,000 students.

“Baghdad University has taken a tremendous step in preparing tomorrow’s leaders with the current and relevant skills vital for success in the 21st Century,” said David Saedi, president and CEO of Certiport. “Education enhanced with digital literacy accelerates learning and opens the door to new and limitless economic opportunity.”

Like other institutions of higher learning in Iraq, Baghdad University has struggled to service students in the face of war and on-going sectarian violence. According to an Iraqi Ministry of Displacement and Migration report, nearly 30 percent of Iraq’s professors have left the country.¹ Notwithstanding the country’s internal turmoil, Baghdad University, Iraq’s oldest and one of its most prestigious universities since 1958 has four main campuses and boasts 26 colleges, six high institutes and ten research centers. The university has also demonstrated an on-going commitment to maintaining a global perspective.

“Baghdad University has a distinguished history of supplying Iraq with a highly qualified workforce,” said Marie Taylor, executive vice president of Certiport EMEA. “Now, as it embraces the Digital Age, the university’s adoption of Certiport’s global certification programs will bring Iraqi students on par with 128 other nations preparing their future workforce with industry-recognized credentials.”

Certiport prepares individuals with current and relevant digital skills and credentials for the competitive global workforce, offering solutions that include Certiport IC³, Microsoft® Office Specialist and Microsoft Business Certification programs. These credentials benefit employers, instructors, students and other individuals looking to improve and validate current and relevant computing skills.

Certiport is the industry leader in developing certification programs that validate essential digital skills available in 21 languages and in 128 countries worldwide. To support these worldwide programs, Certiport has grown a channel of more than 12,000 business, academic institutions and government agencies that act as testing centers to develop the competitive global workforce.

About Certiport

Certiport prepares individuals with current and relevant digital skills and credentials for the competitive global workforce. These solutions are delivered by more than 12,000 Certiport Centers worldwide and include Certiport Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC³®), the official Microsoft® Office certification programs and the Adobe® Certified Associate certification program.

"Certiport" and "IC³" are registered trademarks of Certiport, Inc. in the United States and other countries. "Microsoft" is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Press Contact:

John Pilmer
801-369-7535
mediarelations@certiport.com