UAlbany’s Center for Technology in Government Announces Technology Transfer Agreement with MicroKnowledge, Inc.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 9, 2008
Contact: Ben Meyers
(518) 442-3892
     

The University at Albany's Center for Technology in Government and MicroKnowledge Inc., Tech Valley’s leading computer training and consulting firm, have signed an agreement for the delivery of CTG’s XML training curriculum. This unique partnership will allow the public to benefit from both CTG’s expertise, research, and practice in the use of XML for Web site management and MicroKnowledge’s 23 years of experience in the delivery of high-quality technical training. MicroKnowledge will begin offering classes using CTG’s curriculum in January 2009. 

“By standardizing the format of Web content, streamlining the workflow involved in its production, and automating its distribution and maintenance, XML eliminates much of the administrative overhead and uncertainty associated with Web site management,” said Derek Werthmuller, CTG director of technology services. “As the use of XML in Web sites, services, and applications continues to grow, a clear understanding of XML and how to use it are clearly becoming critical skills for Web professionals.” 

Since the late 1990s, CTG has tested the use of XML on its own Web site, eventually converting its entire site to an XML basis in 2003, which resulted in an 80 percent reduction in the time and resources devoted to Web site updates and maintenance. For the past five years, CTG has continued this research and development with targeted applications of XML in a variety of Web environments. 

CTG’s successful implementation generated interest in XML among other New York state agencies looking for a better approach to information management. In response, CTG offered presentations and training sessions that eventually led to an XML Testbed where five government agencies worked with CTG to create individual XML-based prototypes for their own Web sites. The Testbed allowed for experimentation and exploration, and gave CTG additional insight into the training needs of government agencies. 

As a result of this exploration and ensuing insight and in collaboration with MicroKnowledge, CTG enhanced its XML training curriculum as part of CTG’s Advanced Web Technologies (AWT) initiative. Under this initiative, CTG will periodically release practical resources grounded in applied research and applicable to government’s use of the Web. 

CTG’s partnership with MicroKnowledge to provide this training will extend the benefits to a wider audience, while allowing CTG to continue research and product development under its AWT initiative. For more than 23 years, MicroKnowledge has provided high-quality training, consulting and documentation services to businesses of all sizes, government agencies, and not-for-profit organizations in Tech Valley and across the nation. Its clients include some of the largest and most well-known regional and national companies. 

“Our partnership with CTG is based on our shared commitment to improving IT performance in government and across the workforce,” says Beth Coco, chair and executive vice president of MicroKnowledge. “It is a perfect fit for us to work with CTG to deliver a unique product. The XML training workshop is based on proven, practical research that sets it apart from standard XML classes and offers high value to participants.”

Beginning in January 2009, MicroKnowledge will begin offering the two-day training session, where participants will learn the fundamentals of XML and how to apply them effectively within their Web environments. Participants will learn through practice the basic structure and coding of XML pages for Web site design and other uses. Day One will provide hands-on training in creating well-formed, valid XML documents, and transforming them using XSL. All the basic concepts of XML—such as DTD, Schema, DOM, SAX, Namespaces, XPath, XSL-FO—will be covered. 

Day Two builds upon the skills introduced in the initial class by providing a lab setting with structured and unstructured exercises. The structured exercises are provided as examples to students of the capabilities within XML/XSL and cover topics such as using XML to build navigation menus, advanced PDF formatting with XSL-FO, Microsoft Office XML, RSS as a simple entry into XML, and others. Students are encouraged to build upon these examples for their own uses within the class. 

The mission of the Center for Technology in Government at the University at Albany is to foster public sector innovation, enhance capability, generate public value, and support good governance. We carry out this mission through applied research, knowledge sharing, and collaboration at the intersection of policy, management, and technology. 

The University at Albany-SUNY has a broad mission of excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, life-enhancing research and scholarship, and a commitment to public service. A University at Albany education brings the world within reach to students through nine schools and colleges, and an honors college. A student body of more than 17,000 students has a global connection to more than 140,000 alumni. For more information about this internationally ranked institution, visit www.albany.edu. For UAlbany's extensive roster of faculty experts, visit www.albany.edu/news/experts.php.