February 8, 2002

SMU AND BOSTON UNIVERSITY PARTNERING TO OFFER PROJECT MANAGEMENT TRAINING IN THE DALLAS AREA

DALLAS -- Southern Methodist University’s Advanced Computer Education Centers are teaming up with TrainingTrack, Boston University’s innovative international training network, to offer project management training in the Dallas area. SMU and TrainingTrack have already formed a similar partnership to offer project management training in the Houston area.

TrainingTrack will help SMU provide professionals in the Dallas area with both daytime and evening project management training, beginning in May 2002. Initially, the courses will be held at the SMU School of Engineering’s facility at 5236 Tennyson Pkwy. in Plano.

Fred Smith, director of SMU’s Advanced Computer Education Centers, said SMU has been wanting to add project management to its offerings because the need for skilled project managers continues to intensify.

“Project failure rates, delays and cost overruns cause problems in all industries,” Smith said. “By affiliating with the TrainingTrack network, SMU will be able to offer BU’s renowned project management training and do it in a way that’s flexible enough to accommodate working professionals.”

Persons interested in acquiring project management skills can take all 24 modules of the TrainingTrack Project Management Program or take only those modules that interest them. The TrainingTrack curriculum is certified by the Project Management Institute.

According to a recent study by Standish Group International, of the more than $250 billion spent annually on IT application development, a huge portion is wasted as a result of project management failure. The study also points out that:

• 31 percent of all projects are canceled before completion
• 88 percent of all projects are over schedule, over budget, or both
• For every 100 projects started, there are 94 restarts
• Average cost overrun is 189 percent of original estimates
• Average time overrun is 222 percent of original estimates

For more information on the new project management program being offered by SMU, call 972-473-3456 or visit the Advanced Computer Education Center Web site at www.smu-training.com.

About Southern Methodist University’s Advanced Computer Education Centers
The Advanced Computer Education Centers run by Southern Methodist University’s School of Engineering provide high quality, personalized training to current and aspiring information technology professionals. Existing courses in database management, computer programming and network administration can lead to certification from vendors such as Microsoft, Unix, Oracle and Cisco. Centers are located in Houston, Plano, Richardson and San Antonio. For more information on the centers, visit their Web site at www.smu-training.com.

About TrainingTrack
TrainingTrack is a new venture from Boston University that provides IT and management development training products and services internationally. Led by a senior management team that was instrumental in making Boston University’s Corporate Education Center New England’s leading IT and project management training provider, TrainingTrack is developing a network of regional training organizations and academic institutions that offer the proven IT and project management curricula from Boston University. In addition to award-winning programs, affiliates gain access to marketing, recruitment and career changer support services developed at Boston University. TrainingTrack affiliates can act as resellers of Boston University-delivered programs under their own brand, or they may choose to deliver training using “Boston University Official Curriculum” courseware and TrainingTrack’s program and marketing support. Affiliates will also have the opportunity to distribute their own in-demand, quality programs through the TrainingTrack network. TrainingTrack is on the Web at www.trainingtrack.com and can be contacted at 978-863-0110.