CSU Teams With Alcatel to Develop Networking Technology Program; Networking Technology Curriculum to Launch At CSU Long Beach and CSU Monterey Bay

Business Wire, Feb 20, 2001

Business Editors & Education Writers

CALABASAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 20, 2001

California State University has partnered with Alcatel (NYSE:ALA), to establish a networking technology curriculum and training program at participating CSU campuses.

In addition, this unique partnership will create technology labs, internships, scholarships and other opportunities for CSU students system-wide. CSU Long Beach and CSU Monterey Bay have been selected to pilot the networking curriculum this spring.

"This partnership with Alcatel will optimize the understanding, implementation and use of computer networking technologies by working directly with interested campus faculty, staff and students," said Mark Crase, CSU senior director of technology infrastructure. "It will create opportunities for students, faculty and staff that otherwise might not be available."

The program is intended to teach the fundamentals of networking technology by establishing or enhancing networking courses at CSU campuses and will be used not only for student courses but also for CSU staff training.

CSU Long Beach and CSU Monterey Bay will first offer the curriculum, which will provide instruction from a comprehensive introductory base of networking terminology and concepts such as convergence of data, voice and video technologies on LANs, WANs, and the Internet. It will enable students and staff to design, implement, troubleshoot, and maintain networking infrastructures.

To supplement the learning experience, Alcatel also will provide personnel and industry experts with specific areas of expertise to serve as guest lecturers at CSU campuses. In addition, $75,000 will be donated to create and implement a "Networking Bootcamp" at CSU Monterey Bay and other training programs that will target the K-12 community. CSU Long Beach also will develop a certificate program for CSU employees.

"The world of networking is a complex, multi-faceted environment that is continually evolving at a rapid pace," said Alan Amrod, Alcatel vice president of North America marketing. "Alcatel's curriculum for networking fundamentals is consistent with the changes in the technology industry. This curriculum will provide CSU faculty, students, and staff with the latest developments."

Alcatel will create laboratories at CSU Long Beach and CSU Monterey Bay by donating equipment to be ready as soon as this spring. These laboratories will provide a setting in which networking technology and standards can be taught with a hands-on approach. Students will be able to apply theoretical networking technology concepts to the real world of networking.

The partnership also will establish internship opportunities at Alcatel's headquarters in Calabasas, where students will have opportunities to work in various divisions such as technical training to support network implementations as systems engineers; technical writing for the creation of manuals and training materials; marketing and rollout development of programs; and software and hardware engineering design and development. Scholarships also will be developed to assist students with their academic endeavors.

About California State University

The California State University is the largest four-year university system in the country. More than 21,000 faculty teach about 370,000 students on 23 campuses and six off-campus centers throughout the state. Nearly two million people have graduated from CSU campuses. Altogether, about half the bachelor's degrees and a third of the master's degrees awarded in California are from the CSU. For more information on the CSU see www.calstate.edu.

About Alcatel

Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data networking solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. With 130,000 employees and sales of EURO 31 billion in 2000, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com.