Altair Engineering and Oakland University Launch New Certification Program for Business Intelligence and Data Mining

TROY, Mich., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Altair Engineering, a leading global provider of technology and services that empower innovation and decision making, together with Oakland University's School of Business Administration, has developed a new, market-leading certificate program for business intelligence and data mining.

The distinctive three-pronged certificate program, which begins on January 28, will offer participants an edge in the field of business intelligence and includes:

• Classroom learning through lecture and case studies to help students gain knowledge and skills to use software tools to make competitive business decisions.
• Training that details Altair's HiQube business intelligence software using specific case studies involving the medical, financial, quality and warranty business environments.
• Assistance in identifying internship opportunities where students can put their new skills into practice.  

The goal of the internship component of this certificate program is to allow students to apply their focused training to address real-world business needs – benefitting both the participants' understanding as well as the internship host company's business.  Internship host sites will receive free HiQube software licenses and support for the duration of the internship period.  

"Uncertain economic times mean businesses must work faster and smarter by combining the critical skills of data mining and business intelligence," said David Schmueser, Ph.D., University Program Manager for Altair. "Through our partnership with Oakland University, Altair will help participants to effectively acquire and use the information needed to solve specific needs and identify emerging trends from which a company might profit in a cost-effective and time- and resource-efficient manner."

This certificate program approach directly addresses one of the challenges President Barack Obama identified during his visit at Macomb Community College in July 2009 – connecting students looking for jobs with businesses looking to hire. This program is a prime example of putting colleges and employers together to create programs that match curricula in the classroom with the needs of boardroom.

To take the course, students must hold a Bachelor or Master of Science degree, preferably in IT, computer science, engineering, business, sales, marketing, operations management, procurement or finance.

For more information or to register, visit www.sba.oakland.edu/ce or http://www.oakland.edu/?id=11544&sid=248 or call (248) 370-3177.

Businesses interested in becoming an internship host site should contact David Schmueser at 248-614-2400.  

About Altair

Altair Engineering Inc., empowers client innovation and decision-making through technology that optimizes the analysis, management and visualization of business and engineering information. Privately held, with more than 1,300 employees, Altair has offices throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia/Pacific. With a 20-year-plus track record for product design, engineering simulation software, advanced computing technologies and enterprise analytics solutions, Altair consistently delivers a competitive advantage to customers in a broad range of industries. To learn more, please visit http://www.altair.com.

SOURCE Altair Engineering, Inc.