Similarity Systems Announces its Sponsorship of first Data Quality/
Information Quality Master’s program


Little Rock, AR and Dublin, Ireland, December 13 2005:
Similarity Systems unveiled its new Data Quality Software Program for Education with the announcement of its sponsorship of the proposed Master of Science degree in Information Quality (MS IQ) at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR).

UALR is the first university to benefit from the new program, which demonstrates Similarity Systems' commitment to furthering knowledge and understanding of data quality issues through collaboration with third-level colleges and institutions.

“We recognize the importance of fostering industry best practices through leading edge data quality technology and applied research,” said Garry Moroney, chief executive officer at Similarity Systems. “We look forward to this collaboration being the first of many between Similarity Systems and educational institutions, which will benefit from our Data Quality Software Program for Education.”

"Data quality is becoming a critical issue for industry and government. By working with Similarity Systems and other program sponsors to develop a master's program in information quality, we hope to graduate students who are able to deal with the expanding data quality needs of all organizations," said Dr. John Talburt, MS IQ Program Director, University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

The Similarity Systems Data Quality Software Program provides academic users with access to the company’s unique data quality and data profiling solutions, ATHANOR and AXIO. It offers no-cost or low-cost licenses for worldwide education and research individuals and institutions, enabling qualifying academic and research users and communities to benefit from using Similarity Systems software in the classroom, and in research and development.

As part of the program Similarity Systems is collaborating with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in its efforts to develop and offer the new master’s degree in information quality. As an initial sponsor of the proposed program, Similarity Systems will assist through a donation of site licenses and support for Similarity Systems software packages to be used in instruction and research.

The very first MS IQ is being developed by the UALR Donaghey College of Information Science and Systems Engineering (CyberCollege) to prepare students for careers in industry and government, as well as advanced graduate studies. The content for the MS IQ is being designed with assistance from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Information Quality Program, and will be coupled with a shared emphasis on applied research in Information Quality.
The university hopes to have approval to enroll its first students in the program in the fall semester of 2006.

For further information on the program see http://mitiq.mit.edu/UALRMSIQ/

Note: The Similarity Systems Data Quality Software Program for Education provides software specifically for use in classroom assignments, such as projects and tutorials, and any form of academic research activity. This edition is not available for campus-wide deployment of administration services or other commercial activities.

About UALR
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is a dynamic metropolitan university with a student population of 11,000 full and part-time students. As an active and integral part of the community, UALR is able to put its students in close contact with the state's most influential leaders in government, business, industry, medicine, and information technology. In fact, offering the state's only comprehensive information science and systems engineering program, UALR is a leader in the field of information technology.

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