GALA: The Globalization and Localization Association |

November 28, 2006

California State University, Chico Continuing Education Offers Localization Certification Program

Globalization and Localization Association (GALA)

Enrollment is now open for two 2007 workshops

Seattle, Washington, USA -- California State University, Chico Continuing Education, in partnership with the Globalization and Localization Association (GALA) and The Localization Institute, announces open enrollment for the 2007 Localization Certification Program for professionals, business executives, web managers, and other professionals wanting to learn localization and international e-business.

Initiated in early 2006, the Localization Certification Program was developed by industry experts representing the leading professional associations, publishers and academic institutions in the field as a response to this growing demand for localization professionals. The program provides a unique educational opportunity to learn and demonstrate competency in the up-and-coming localization and international e-business fields.

The demand for the program was so overwhelming in 2006, that there will be workshops in two locations for 2007 -- one in Europe and one in the USA. The European Localization Certification Program will take place April 25-27, 2007 in Marseille, France at host university EUROMED Marseille Ecole de Management. The North American Localization Certification program is scheduled for June 12-14, 2007 at California State University, Chico, USA. The Chico site will also host Advance Training in Localization Project Management June 15-16, 2007.

The Certification Program is comprised of three components: forty-five hours of self-paced, online instruction; a three-day intensive workshop, and a localization certification exam.

Localization is an emerging, multi-discipline field that focuses on how organizations develop linguistically and culturally appropriate websites, software, marketing strategies and messages for a diverse global audience. Professionals charged with international marketing, translation, localization and other business functions must now possess a blend of industry-specific knowledge, technical e-business skills, language translation management experience, and a cultural understanding of the people and markets they serve.

"We have partnered with many significant contributors to the field to establish this program, and we look forward to providing an educational solution for those who sell and market products globally. As companies attempt to expand their exports, this education becomes essential business knowledge," commented Nitish Singh, CSU, Chico associate professor, director of the College of Business Localization Program, and author of The Culturally Customized Web Site.

Individuals who successfully complete the Localization Certification Program will receive a certification from California State University, Chico Continuing Education, the Globalization and Localization Association (GALA), and The Localization Institute.

To enroll or learn more, please visit http://rce.csuchico.edu/localize or call CSU, Chico Continuing Education at +1-530-898-6105.



About GALA
GALA is an international non-profit association that promotes translation services, language technology and language management solutions. The member companies worldwide include translation agencies, localization service providers, globalization consultants, internationalization specialists and technology developers. GALA companies share a commitment to quality, service and innovation in helping clients reach global markets.

About The Localization Institute
The Localization Institute offers quality training for software localization and internationalization. Founded in the fall of 1996, the Institute offers public events and private consulting engagements that help companies reduce the cost and time required to deliver localized products and services. Localization Institute facilitators have years of direct personal involvement in the specializations they represent, have a passion for sharing their expertise, and are skilled at doing so.

About CSU, Chico RCE
Founded in 1887, California State University, Chico is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in California. Ranked as one of the top public universities in the west, CSU, Chico has built a tradition of excellence in teaching, scholarship, research, and service. To extend the mission of the university, CSU, Chico Continuing Education delivers educational programming and services to more than 10,000 students and professionals annually.