Designed for practicing Infrastructure, Software and Business architects, the program [www.IASAhome.org/web/training] is modeled after the increasingly popular concept of an online university. The first iteration of an eventual 88 programs will be launched later in the first quarter of 2008.

Microsoft is the first company to commit at the premier or Platinum level of support for the program, thereby allowing Microsoft Certified Architects access to the training curriculum and all other IASA materials, both in their professional consulting engagements and internally.

Microsoft Learning provides training, certifications, MS Press books, skills assessments, and online reference materials to enable more powerful usage of Microsoft technology. “Microsoft is proud to work with IASA in developing their training curriculum,” said George Cerbone, Program Manager, Microsoft Certified Architect Program at Microsoft Corp. “We are investing in IASA because access to the program’s resources will become a key benefit for our certified architects. We are also interested that the IASA program represents a milestone in creating the first cross-technology architect certification.”

Based on learnings from stable professions such as medicine and law, the curriculum was developed by IASA’s architecture training committee, comprising IASA experts across a broad range of skills, and guided by IASA founder and President Paul Preiss.

Cogentes provides enterprise consulting services that integrate business strategy and technology efforts to maximize return on Information Technology (IT) investments and deliver business value. “It is essential that architects use the same language and share the same methodology. Without these standards, there is no architecture as a discipline nor architect as a profession,” said David Leonard, Executive Vice President of Sales and Business Development at Cogentes “We rely on IASA to provide that unifying structure, and it is essential that we link with an organization that is clearly providing leadership in a much-needed area.”

Tectura provides business solutions and technology services through software, consulting and IT implementation, delivering its clients an increased efficiency that results in project acceleration and an overall competitive edge. “Sponsoring this important IASA training program demonstrates Tectura’s commitment to our people. It provides for career growth from an individual standpoint, and helps enterprises with employee retention and recruiting,” said Ben Bicknell, Executive Vice President from Tectura. “Partnering with IASA demonstrates Tectura’s commitment to excellence, learning, and thought leadership.”

IASA founder and President Paul Preiss said that corporate sponsors like Microsoft, Cogentes and Tectura both underscore IASA’s credibility as a source of vital information and enhance its stability, enabling the further development of course materials and other information resources. “Our sponsors have clearly established their own independent credibility in this field, guiding and participating in architecture activities. We are proud to be keeping company with such leaders, and it is logical to take this relationship to the next level. Working together, we will both stabilize and advance the entire field”

As the largest non-profit organization in the world that is dedicated to IT architects, IASA’s training program is designed for junior-level through advanced architects interested in advancing their own skills and learning new techniques, and is expected to appeal to training departments of large organizations that have been under-served.

The course work is technique- and skill-based, which means it will deliver practical value immediately to professional and aspiring architects. It is founded on the concept that if architects are specialized in areas of software, infrastructure and business architecture, then they must share a common skill set as well.

The courses range from $450-$550, with a full annual license for all courses around $15,000. Additional options are available for large enterprises that often need to train significant numbers of people. Further, IASA will provide accreditation for third-party training providers.

“Our goal is to create a market of architecture ideas and learning,” said Preiss. “Investing in IT Architecture is one of the most strategic commitments an enterprise makes. It is critical that organizations work together to create a solid value proposition for their enterprises, and for the practice. Like any other standard, IT Architecture establishes common ground, for understanding and building information systems.”

The program itself will be rolled out over the course of 2008 in iterations of 20-25 courses per quarter. Preiss said he expects the courses to be roughly 10-12 hours of seat time, and they will include multiple interactive components to help students visualize and practice the concepts. Students passing courses will be granted continuing education credits.

IASA is a vendor agnostic, non-profit association focused on defining and supporting the professional duties of IT architects.

About IASA

The International Association of Software Architects is the premier association focused on the IT architecture profession through the advancement of best practices and education. Established in 2002, IASA delivers programs and services to IT architects of all levels around the world. A non-profit business association, IASA is dedicated to the advancement and sharing of issues related to software, infrastructure, and business architecture in the enterprise, product, education and government sectors.

The association is committed to improving the quality of the IT architecture industry by developing and delivering standards, education programs and developing accreditation programs and services that optimize the development of the architecture profession. IASA membership consists of approximately 6,000 members located in more than 40 countries