Maureen Pomeroy Heads Bentley's Training Programs

Maureen Pomeroy heads up Bentley's training programs (known as Bentley Institute). Since only half of you Bentley software users have no formal training (you know who you are), you'd do well to take one of her courses. What you don't know will undoubtedly make you work more efficiently.

I know. I used to teach CAD (AutoCAD at Northampton Community College, PA). I was always amazed how some of my students, many of whom had been CAD operators for years, had gotten by. Even veterans could be taught some tricks.

Maureen found time to talk to me at Bentley's annual user meeting. Maureen has been at Bentley for less than a year. Previously, she was at SAP, where she was in charge of  knowledge management and training for SAP’s 11,000 field services consultants.

Here are some highlights of our discussion.

• Most training is still traditional classroom type, but Bentley also offers live, distance learning courses and streaming, self paced courses.
• Only about 2% of training is currently done as live, distance learning.
• Live, distance learning is growing fast in the in the US, but a little slower to catch on in Europe. "Europeans seem to be able to travel."
• Most distance learning is conducted in English, even in Europe.
• Learning units are given for completing course; these appear on user transcripts. However, as of yet, there are no tests to pass or be graded for any Bentley classes.
• In 2006, Bentley awarded over 420,000 learning units*. 
• Enrollment in Bentley Select (subscription program) entitles uses to 2 free courses, MicroStation v8 User Update and Moving to MicroStation
• The live, distance learning courses were reviewed by TenLinks and got a "CoolTech" award (see link)

*A learning unit equals 1 hour of training