CS Holdings, Sun partnership flourishes

CS Holdings` relationship with Sun Microsystems continues to grow from strength to strength since the company`s appointment in 1999 as the only Authorised Sun Education Centre (ASEC) in SA.

"We have enjoyed a fruitful relationship with CS Holdings," says Shane Carlson, Sun Microsystems Regional Manager Emerging Markets EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region. "We successfully addressed the start-up challenges that accompany any new relationship and the fact that CS Holdings is today widely recognised throughout SA as our only authorised training partner is proof that the partnership works."

"The win-win relationship is further underlined by our joint successes at events such as Computer Faire and Sun Development Connection, and with Java Online University," adds Christine McDonald, managing director of CS Holdings` Education Solutions division.

Carlson says Java University has enabled Sun Microsystems to not only promote its Java technology, but also reinforce the high quality of Java training provided by CS Holdings.

"Much `grey` Java training continues to take place in the market and is not very good. Thanks to our association with CS Holdings, however, awareness of the pitfalls of using these unauthorised providers who claim to be endorsed by Sun is rapidly increasing. The value of going to an accredited education partner as opposed to using one which has not been authorised by any vendor is becoming increasingly apparent, especially when it comes to the quality of course material, instructors and facilities."

"We place high value on our relationship with Sun, which remain one of our top five income providers," continues McDonald. "Consequently, we have allocated it to our CRM department and are implementing additional resources to ensure an ongoing successful partnership."

"We fully intend to broaden both the authorised course offerings from Sun and the availability of those programs within the marketplace," she concludes.