OREANDA-NEWS.    Indiana University's Kelley School of Business announced today that it is providing customized graduate-level educational programs for information technology professionals as part of General Electric's (NYSE: GE) Information Technology Leadership Program.

GE's challenging two-year early career leadership rotational program helps participants develop problem-solving skills through advanced courses in IT and technology projects, as well as presentations to senior leadership that are aligned with business objectives.

The customized curriculum, also being delivered by faculty in the School of Informatics and Computing at IU Bloomington, will consist of a 15-credit graduate-level certificate program, which will be completed through a series of in-person and online courses.

Upon completion, and based on participant performance, GE professionals can continue working toward a MBA degree or a Master of Science degree in information technology management, finance, global supply chain management, management or marketing. Approximately 150 GE professionals will make up the first cohort.

"This program is a great example of the investment GE is making in training and development,” said GE Chief Information Officer Jamie Miller. “Our IT professionals push the limits of technology and the courses offered through this program, which will focus on rapidly disruptive technologies like cloud and mobility, and will arm participants with the skills needed to drive breakthrough levels of efficiency, productivity, and innovation for GE and our customers.”

An international leader in graduate business education, the Kelley School will leverage its renowned, top-ranked faculty and innovative resources to create customized offerings for GE's IT professionals.

Kelley is building on previous successes in creating customized offerings for clients at other Fortune 500 firms, including General Motors, Ingersoll-Rand, John Deere and Cummins Engine Co., as well as Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte, United Technologies Corp., Cognizant and China International Marine Containers Group.

"The Kelley School has been providing successful customized programs for a wide range of corporate and educational partners worldwide for more than 25 years. Our leadership and innovation in delivering online programs provides the flexibility to design a unique experience for GE," said Idalene Kesner, dean of the Kelley School and the Frank P. Popoff Chair of Strategic Management.

"A key driver is Kelley’s Master of Science in Information Systems program, which has been producing highly successful IT professionals for well over a decade. Some of our school's recruiting companies have asked us to teach the new hires from other business schools how to manage IT the way our graduates do," Kesner added. "With an industry-connected faculty who are dedicated to innovative research and the success of their students, we produce leaders in IT management and beyond."

"The role of IT professionals and their importance to large organizations has changed dramatically in just a few years, with the shift towards cloud-based and mobile-based environments," said Ash Soni, executive associate dean for academic programs and a professor of operations and decision technologies at Kelley. "Students in the program will be better equipped to meet these challenges and evolve and adapt to them."

Courses will focus on five specialty areas identified by GE, including analysis leading to solutions, program and project management, service management and platform and infrastructure management. While these subjects are taught as part of Kelley’s degree programs, faculty will work with GE practice and thought leaders to customize existing courses and to develop new courses as needed.

Kelley was the first top-15 business school in the United States to develop an online MBA program. Ranked No. 1 earlier this year by U.S. News & World Report, the school has offered online education to corporate-sponsored employees and individuals for 15 years. Last year, it expanded its credit-bearing certificate programs for executives worldwide, including in India, Korea and Brazil.