Bentley Establishes MicroStation Institute; Company Begins Worldwide MicroStation Training with First-ever Professional Credentials and Registry of Trained MicroStation Users.

EXTON Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 23, 1995--Bentley Systems, Inc. today announced the formation of MicroStation(R) Institute, its new high-quality MicroStation training program.

The program offers a comprehensive curriculum of Bentley courses which will be available worldwide at authorized training sites, called MicroStation Productivity Centers (MPCs). Also, Bentley will assign professional credentials and maintain a registry of trained MicroStation users, a unique aspect of the program.

MicroStation Institute manager, Chuck Rumford, explains, "We are taking the responsibility of the training infrastructure. Users and their organizations, knowing that Bentley is maintaining a high-quality MicroStation curriculum and program, can now develop and execute long-term training plans." He adds, "Our focus is to maximize the productivity and success of users working on mission-critical projects."

MicroStation Institute is the first and only training program in CAD to assign professional credentials and maintain a registry of trained users. Courses completed by professionals are verified and documented. Users can therefore maintain a "portfolio" of MicroStation credentials. Employers can use these credentials and released registry information as a resource in their search for professionals with particular skills. This system will support the standards of the National CADD Skills Council.

MicroStation Institute courses place a special emphasis on the use of the MicroStation products within the context of user and organization workflows. All courses and programs are modular and can be customized to match users needs. Courses will start with the tasks that users need to accomplish and step through the best ways to accomplish them with MicroStation, rather than simply explaining various user commands. This workflow-based, task-driven thrust multiplies the long-term benefits of training.

More on MPCs

The MicroStation Institute includes training centers throughout the world, called MicroStation Productivity Centers (MPCs). Each MPC is operated by a MicroStation value-added reseller (MVAR) or authorized Bentley reseller and features certified trainers and Bentley courseware. Bentley maintains rigorous standards for trainer certification and provides continuing education to trainers as well as the opportunity to team teach with Bentley training specialists.

With Bentley assuming the responsibility for courseware, MPCs can concentrate on providing the most flexible and convenient delivery mechanisms for users. User training from an MPC ensures a consistent, highest quality framework of MicroStation courses, maintenance of user credentials, and the most technically accurate course content.

Availability and Course Listing

Courses that will be available at MPCs include MicroStation 95, MicroStation BASIC, the full MicroStation range of products, MicroStation PowerTools(TM), MicroStation Upgrades, Systems Administrator, Transitioning from AutoCAD, Engineering Visualization, Technical Document Management, as well as multi-level training in the MicroStation Development Language (MDL(TM)). Bentley also plans courses focused on sectors, including plant, civil, GIS, architectural, and mechanical design. Users can now enroll in MicroStation Institute courses, some of which begin this fall.

Background on MicroStation Institute Principals

Mr. Rumford came to Bentley recently from Intergraph, where he oversaw worldwide training of all products, including all computer-aided design tools. He joins Bentley with over 20 years of management and training experience and currently represents Bentley on the Executive Advisory Committee of the National CADD Skills Council.

Joining Mr. Rumford to head the development of the MicroStation Institute courseware will be well-known author and MicroStation expert Frank Conforti. Mr. Conforti brings with him extensive background in MicroStation training and consulting and in CAD system management. He is the author of INSIDE MicroStation and co-author of Managing and Networking MicroStation and MicroStation for AutoCAD Users.

Also, in establishing MicroStation Institute, Bentley acquired and integrated the services of training-provider Softvision of Chicago. Softvision has provided MicroStation training to users, resellers, and organizations throughout the world, including AT&T and DuPont of Canada. As a part of the agreement, all principals of Softvision have joined Bentley as trainers and course developers.

For more information on MicroStation Institute, please contact Bentley at 1-800-BENTLEY, [phone] (US), [phone] (Europe), [phone] (Asia), via e-mail at [e-mail], or through the World Wide Web at http://www.bentley.com/.

More on Bentley

Bentley Systems, Inc. is the leader in professional computer-aided design products and services to engineering organizations where CAD is mission-critical. The company's MicroStation product range is relied upon by over 200,000 professional users and over 600 commercial application developers worldwide in the architecture/engineering/construction (AEC), geographic information systems (GIS), and mechanical design markets. Founded in 1984, Bentley has now become one of the world's fastest growing software companies. -0-

MicroStation is s registered trademark, and MicroStation PowerTools and MDL are trademarks of Bentley Systems, Inc. Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Michelle Allard

Boston Communications

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