Books24x7, a subsidiary of SkillSoft plc and the developer of online Referenceware for IT and business professionals, today announced that it had signed a licensing agreement with GTSlearning, a provider of blended learning solutions for IT professionals. Under the agreement, Books24x7 has added to its Referenceware collections 19 books developed by GTSlearning to address the full range of Microsoft Office products and the information needs of those seeking European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) certification.
The ECDL is the European-wide qualification that enables people to demonstrate their competence in computer skills. Qualification involves passing tests in basic IT concepts, general computer use and file management, word processing, spreadsheets and databases.
Books24x7 includes the full text of the GTSlearning books in ITPro, an online collection of more than 2,700 unabridged titles for IT professionals, and OfficeEssentials, an online collection of 90 unabridged titles for non-technical users of Microsoft and other desktop applications. The agreement between GTSlearning and Books24x7 gives ITPro and OfficeEssentials subscribers the ability to access all text - or to search for specific information using Books24x7`s unique, multi-tier search engine.
"ECDL has become a significant part of our business since we launched our current product range two years ago. Our new agreement with Books24x7 reinforces our status as a provider of quality reference materials and complements our existing blended-learning portfolio for ECDL," said Robin Adda, managing director of GTSlearning. The ECDL Foundation has recognised GTSlearning as an approved course developer.
"We believe the addition of GTSlearning`s ECDL-approved content will be very important to Referenceware users throughout Europe," said John Ambrose, general manager of Books24x7. "This content offers users a clear, concise route of study for achieving ECDL certification."
Representative GTSlearning titles to be included in ITPro and OfficeEssentials include:
* Database with Access 2002
* Information and Communication with Internet Explorer 6
* Presentation with PowerPoint 2002
* Spreadsheets with Excel 2002
* Using the Computer and Managing Files with Windows XP
* Word Processing with Word 2002
Subscribers to ITPro and OfficeEssentials have unlimited access to the entire contents of each collection, including new titles added each week. Annual subscriptions for individual users are lb259 for ITPro and lb36 for OfficeEssentials. Corporate discounts are also available.
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With many years of experience in the IT training industry, GTSlearning is firmly established as the market-leading world-wide provider of blended learning solutions. A global network of commercial and academic education centres currently benefits from quality learning materials and support resources, designed for instructor-led, self-paced and e-learning delivery.
GTSlearning provides blended learning through its Freestyle package that combines traditional instructor-led or self-paced training with a full complement of support solutions. GTSlearning has a complete portfolio of quality IT and business skills learning content for desktop, technical, help desk, project management and other business skills, Internet and professional IT certifications (including the full range of CompTIA, Cisco and Microsoft technical certifications). Where appropriate, GTSlearning seeks vendor approval for its content portfolio.
Further information about GTSlearning at www.GTSlearning.com.
Books24x7
Books24x7, a subsidiary of SkillSoft PLC (NASDAQ: SKIL), offers subscription clients online access to more than 4,000 unabridged IT and business books and reference works. Books24x7`s patent-pending technology platform enables users to pinpoint business-critical information quickly by performing multi-tier, online searches of the company`s Referenceware collections: ITPro, BusinessPro, FinancePro, and OfficeEssentials.
Clients include Bank of America, Lockheed Martin, EDS, and Avanade. The company has relationships with more than 85 leading publishers, including AMACOM, ASTD, Harvard Business School Publishing, McGraw-Hill, Sybex, and John Wiley and Sons.
For more information on Books24x7, visit www.books24x7.com or call 0208 283 1800.
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