Oracle supports Academia with Initiative rollout

OAI's membership in the Middle East has grown to 22,000 students since its launch in 2000 and regional rollout in 2002. In 2004 alone, Oracle has granted US$57 million worth of cutting-edge software licences and support services to 68 faculties in the Middle East.

A US$1.7 billion global program, OAI provides colleges and universities globally with enterprise-grade IT resources that include application software, professional development and certification choices across every department and discipline. The goal of OAI is to help institutions prepare students for the knowledge economy by providing them with exposure to state-of-the-art software, including open technologies not specific to Oracle, before they enter the workforce.

Husam Dajani, Vice President, Oracle, Middle East and Africa, commented: "The Oracle Academic Initiative is an expression of our commitment to serve the communities in which we operate, as well as the sense of responsibility we feel towards society. It is a responsibility that we take very seriously and a role of which we are very proud. OAI begins a virtuous cycle that flows through students, instructors, institutions and national economies as a whole, thereby improving the quality of life for all."
Since its inception in the US in 1997, OAI has expanded its presence to more than 64 countries and has enlisted more than 1,800 institutions globally.

The successful rollout of OAI opens the door in the Middle East to a bouquet of philanthropic offerings managed by Oracle Education Initiatives and the Oracle Foundation, which extend to primary and secondary school levels.