California University of Technology: A Legacy of Technical Education Since 1996

Education Network known as EdNET was a network of 150+ IT education, training and certification centers worldwide started in 1996. EdNET established franchise centers in many countries including the U.S, Canada, U.K., Norway, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, and India. EdNET was founded by Mr. Senthil Kumar and the network was promoted by Dr. Simon Sim and Dr. B Singh. Between 1998 and 2000, EdNET established education partnership alliances with Microsoft, IBM, Sun Microsystems, Lotus and CIW to offer information technology certifications, internet software services training and certification. The company also offered testing services through its network of Authorized Prometric Testing Centers. EdNET in 2001 was partially acquired by Savant Infocomm Technologies, headquartered in Singapore.

In 2001, Mr. Kumar transformed some of the EdNET centers into Qsofttraining.net training centers. Qsoft was offering specialized Microsoft.NET training solution even before the .NET framework was officially launched until 2002. Qsoft was a pioneer in offering e-commerce certifications online called ePro. It also offered networking, internet security, and web application programing - both through classroom and online delivery models. Qsoft offered certifications via its VUE Authorized Testing Center.

In 2002, Qsoft was renamed iUniversity, which offered global business programs, IT certifications and management training courses. iUniversity, in alliance with Benchmark Online, entered in to an IMA Agreement [International Marketing Associate] with the University of Washington to promote online executive certificate programs. iUniversity was later transformed into the California University of Technology. iUniversity, CalUniversity and Benchmark were all corporate initiatives under the parent company iGLOBAL group - an international incubation and angel funding company started by Mr. Kumar.

In 2002, iGLOBAL partnered with American Education Systems, founded in Chicago, Illinois. The management decided to move the institutional operations to California to capitalize on the robust technology environment and international cosmopolitanism of southern California. In 2003, California University of Technology was incorporated in the State of California and started its initial operations in the city of West Covina. The founding members were Dr. Michael Zullo, Dr. Richard Allen and Mr. Larry Golda under the leadership of Mr. Kumar as the President and CEO.

CalUniversity began its business operations as a Distance Education and Learning (DEL) university. The programs were developed by Benchmark Online (a division of iGLOBAL) and Benchmark transferred its diploma and degree program curriculum to CalUniversity. Benchmark also offered e-learning platform solutions, instructional design and e-learning content development services to CalUniversity in the earliest stages of the university’s formation. CalUniversity received state approval in 2005 and has been fully operational since that time.

Today CalUniversity represents the cutting edge of innovation in e-learning. Having developed the CalUniversity LearnCenter software in partnership with NETed, Inc (a division of Benchmark Online) based on their NILE platform, the university continues to develop student centered and outcome based technologies for presenting their content. The university has filed trademarks and patents for its CASE™, ADVISE™, RAPID™, FlexiLearn™, BlendEd™, and KnowledgeTRA™ learning development methodologies. The university utilizes a process of both rapid development and continuous improvement for expert content development and implementation. The success of the university is measured best by its students, whose feedbacks have indicated both enthusiasm for and satisfaction with our delivery.

The university has also expanded its program offerings to meet the demands and requirements of both students and employers in the new international economy. Now the university is divided into the Schools of Business and Entrepreneurship, Information Technology and Management, Healthcare Management, and the newly established Hollywood College of Entertainment Management to provide learning opportunities to a much more diverse and active student body. In the future, the university will continue to focus on providing innovative and relevant services, programs, courses, and curriculum to the emerging international business leaders of tomorrow.