On July 23, 2007 Oracle welcomed 48 teachers to its Oracle Academy Institute, held in De Meern, Netherlands from July 23-28, 2007. The Institute is an intensive professional development program that prepares faculty to teach the Oracle Academy’s technology and business curriculum. This curriculum focuses on database design and programming skills, and is delivered over two semesters in high schools, colleges, and vocational schools globally.

"We are delighted to host our first Academy Institute in Western Europe," said Clare Dolan, Vice President, Oracle Education Initiatives. "By conducting this training event in the Netherlands, we are able to help meet the growing demand for IT workers in the region.”

“Oracle has been committed to advancing education for over a decade, and our programs have matured to the point where they are truly first-rate,” said Orla Ni Chorcora, Director of Oracle Academy, Europe, Middle East & Africa. “The Academy Institute provides teachers with the world-class training needed to ready young people for success in today’s global economy.”

To prepare for this week’s live training event, teachers completed 40 hours of online coursework, quizzes, and weekly discussions with an Oracle Academy mentor. These teachers will now work face-to-face with their Oracle Academy instructors over the next six days. At the conclusion of the training, teachers will demonstrate their readiness to teach the Academy curriculum by completing a class project and passing an exam.

"The Oracle Academy approach to training is geared toward instructor and student success,” said Dr. Alex Webb, Oracle Academy instructor from The Leigh City Technology College and Instructor Institute adjunct instructor. "Participants exit the Instructor Institute with a level of understanding that is rarely acquired at teacher professional development events, ensuring that their students are prepared for success in higher education and the 21st century workplace."

The 48 participating teachers represent 39 schools from Croatia, England, Estonia, Hungary, Netherlands, Scotland, and Serbia. In addition to the Brussels event, Oracle is concurrently hosting a second Academy Institute from July 23-28, 2007 in Brussels, Belgium. The Belgian event will include 45 teachers from five EMEA countries.