Training Center in Egypt becomes the First Alcatel-Lucent University in the Middle East and Africa

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced that the Training Center of Alcatel-Lucent Egypt recently became the 20th certified training center within Alcatel-Lucent’s global education network. Named Alcatel-Lucent University Egypt, this is the first Alcatel-Lucent certified university in the Middle East and Africa.

The new university was inaugurated yesterday by H.E. Dr. Tarek Kamel, Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Vincenzo Nesci, President Middle East activities for Alcatel-Lucent and Pierre Beretti, Vice President Human Resources, Alcatel-Lucent Europe & South region. Top executives from the Egyptian Ministry for Communication and Information Technology, industry professionals and other Alcatel-Lucent executives will attend the ceremony.

The mission of Alcatel-Lucent University Egypt is to deploy learning and qualification solutions that will enable customers and employees in the Middle East and North and West Africa region to achieve their strategic business objectives. By adopting a consultative approach to learning, the University seeks to maximize customer proficiency with Alcatel-Lucent products and solutions, while enabling employees to excel in their current roles and adapt to future job requirements.

Alcatel-Lucent University in Egypt’s teaching staff is made up of 14 instructors, each with engineering backgrounds and certified in pedagogical and technical aspects. It is considered an institute of higher learning, offering an array of learning opportunities that support customers’ current business needs, as well as employees’ professional development.

Courses include product, technology, management and non-technical training. Alcatel-Lucent University learning solutions are offered in a wide variety of convenient and cost-efficient formats, including e-Learning, virtual/remote learning and classroom-based training. In 2006, the site taught more than 1800 people in its location at the Smart Village Egypt and at customer sites.

“We are very proud that Egypt’s training center has now become part of Alcatel-Lucent University’s global network,” said Pierre Beretti Vice President Human Resources, Alcatel-Lucent Europe and South. “From its Cairo location the university will serve the whole of the Middle East and Africa region, improving the training available to our customers in the region and enhancing learning opportunities for our employees as they seek to upgrade their expertise and their ability to better serve our customers.”

“Being part of Alcatel-Lucent University worldwide enables us to leverage best practices from the company’s world-class educational expertise and resources around the globe,” added Vincenzo Nesci, President of Alcatel-Lucent Middle East.

Alcatel-Lucent University’s global network of 20 training centers is strategically located near its major customers and employee concentrations. Each university is individually accredited as part of a detailed peer review to ensure a consistent, high-quality training experience.