Bentley and DEG Provide IT Support to AE Schools in the Philippines

Exton, Pa. � 28 July 2005 � Bentley Systems, Incorporated, through BE Careers Network, and Deutsche Investitions und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG), a German development finance institution, are helping architecture and engineering (AE) schools in the Philippines modernize their computer systems and software technology. The goal is to improve the instruction of Filipino students studying AE and, thus, enhance their employment opportunities upon graduation.

�There is no doubt about the talent of Filipino architects and engineers,� explained Lito Garcia, country manager of Bentley in the Philippines. �However, many of our graduates cannot compete against their peers in other countries who have access to technologies such as computer-aided civil and architectural design. Through this joint Bentley-DEG project, schools in Metro Manila received computer hardware and Bentley software including MicroStation � Bentley�s flagship product for the design, construction, and operation of the world�s infrastructure � to improve their existing facilities and help their architecture and engineering students become more competitive.�

Bentley and DEG donated more than $1 million of computer hardware and software to the following 12 architecture and engineering universities in Manila and neighboring provinces: the University of the Philippines, Mapua Institute of Technology, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Bulacan State University, Ateneo School of Government, Manila Observatory, De La Salle University-Canlubang, Technological University of the Philippines, Far Eastern University, and Perpetual Help College Laguna.

�DEG and Bentley want to boost the capabilities of architecture and engineering students through better educational facilities, which, in the long run, benefits the Philippine economy,� said Fred L�bben, senior investment manager at DEG.

A three-week training program for faculty members was also conducted to jump-start the project. It gave participants some basic knowledge in the use of Bentley software, 3D modeling, and component-based engineering.

Added Garcia, �This project is not a one-time donation. To ensure its sustainability, Bentley will regularly monitor and upgrade the technology provided to the schools, and offer additional training to the teachers as required.�

Similar programs have been implemented in a number of universities in Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. Bentley plans to expand these programs this year to include countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and Myanmar, which are all in the process of building and upgrading their infrastructure.

About DEG 

Deutsche Investitions und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG), member of the KfW banking group, is one of the largest European development finance institutions for long-term project and company financing. For more than 40 years, DEG has been financing and structuring the investments of private companies in developing and transition countries.

DEG invests in profitable projects that contribute to sustainable development in all sectors of the economy, from agriculture to infrastructure, manufacturing, and services. It also focuses on investments in the financial sector in order to facilitate reliable access to capital locally. So far, the firm has worked with more than 1,200 companies. By providing 6.2 billion euros of finance, it has achieved a total investment of more than 41 billion euros.

Its aim is to establish and expand private enterprise structures in developing and transition countries, and thus create the basis for sustainable economic growth and a lasting improvement in the living conditions of the local population. 

www.deginvest.de/english/home/frameset_frame_back.html

About Bentley 

Bentley Systems, Incorporated provides software for the lifecycle of the world�s infrastructure. The company�s comprehensive portfolio for the building, plant, civil, and geospatial vertical markets spans architecture, engineering, construction (AEC) and operations. With 2004 revenues exceeding $300 million, Bentley is the leading provider of AEC software to the Engineering News-Record Design 500 and major owner-operators.

www.bentley.com

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