The University of Nevada, Reno College of Business and International Game Technology (IGT) will celebrate a new partnership Tuesday, Sept. 9 from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. in the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center Auditorium. The partnership involves a new IGT-funded Systems Applications, Programs (SAP) course that is required for all information systems majors in the College of Business.

SAP is the world’s leading provider of business software.

The new required course began at the start of the fall 2008 semester. Students will work with SAP in the classroom to master computing aspects of business, translating that skill into real business strategies.

“SAP software turns business requirements into technical solutions,” said Alex McLeod, assistant professor in the college’s Department of Accounting and Information Systems. “Mastery of this technology helps business run smoothly and more efficiently.”

IGT was motivated to fund the course because there is a need, nationwide, for business school graduates with SAP experience.

“There are more than 30,000 job openings in North America where SAP expertise is desired,” said Mike Magera, IGT’s director of Global Business Solutions. “We wanted to partner with the college on this project to give students a valuable skill set that would assist them after graduation, allowing them to make a significant contribution to our state’s workforce.”

According to Magera and McLeod, SAP expertise is valuable on several levels.

“Business analysts with SAP experience are in very high demand,” McLeod said. “Many of them command salaries between $50,000 and $60,000 immediately after graduation. It is my goal to provide students with the best training so they can be good business citizens in the workforce.”

Today, more than 46,100 customers in more than 120 countries run SAP® applications — from solutions addressing the needs of small businesses and midsize companies to suite offerings for global organizations.