MUNCIE, Ind, - Ball State University doesn’t resemble the dreams a group of Irish women had about America before they came here for a computer training courses.

Skyscrapers are nowhere to be found and the night life is nothing close to what they imagined. But, for 14 women participating in a six-week computer networking certification course, hard work is still hard work in both Ireland and America.

"When I found out I was coming here, I was expecting something like New York City with lots of tall buildings and lots to do, like clubs," said Julie Kennedy, 25, of Bray County. "It’s been a brilliant opportunity and a lot of work. I’ve learned loads about IT and computers."

The group has spent long days and nights learning how to set up computer networking systems as part of a program to become CISCO Certified Networking Administrators. They will need three additional semesters of training on equipment used worldwide by CISCO Corp. back in Dublin before receiving their certification.

The Irish government provided funding for the training as part of an initiative to reduce unemployment and attract high tech firms to the island nation.

Ireland’s current high-tech boom started in the late 1980s, when the country’s highly educated workforce, low wages and favorable tax rates attracted American multinationals.

"Hopefully, a big computer company like Dell or Lucent will hire me when I’ve complete my training," Kennedy said. "I attended college back home in hotel management, but I wanted more. Now, I just love computers."

Despite the lack of skyscrapers and other big city amenities, the women have found something Muncie has in common with Ireland - a local sheriff.

In this case, the title goes to Jon Wiley, network systems analyst for University Computing Services, one of the Ball State trainers teaching the aspiring computer network experts.

He received the title for keeping a close eye on his students, never allowing them to stray too far from their education.

The group also commends Wiley for his ability to "cut the rubbish" out of the computer training text.

"He’s a brilliant and nice man," said Ruth Harrison, 29, also of Bray County, which is just a few miles outside Dublin, the capital of Ireland. "He’ll go over everything in detail, explaining it step by step until we understand it."

Wiley has enjoyed the experience of teaching individuals who had extremely little or no knowledge about computer networking.

"You have to break down the information, finding ways to explain it so they’ll grasp the concepts," he said. "Sometimes I compare things to a horn honking to get the point across.

"It has been fun to be a part of this. I think that once they go back to Ireland and complete their training, they’ll have lots of opportunities."

The hard work should pay off for all of Wiley’s students because Ireland needs skilled workers more than ever.

For the first time in it’s history, more people are immigrating to Ireland than leaving. Its economy has enjoyed an annual growth rate of 8.9 percent for the last five years, and unemployment is at an all-time low of 6.7 percent.

The nation’s per-capita exports, at a record high of $17,000, are the third highest among non oil-producing economies worldwide, according to Ireland’s Central Statistics Office. There are now more than 1,000 Irish-owned high-tech firms, and that number is growing at a rate of two per week.

"Ireland is getting more and more into IT," said Denise Lang, 33, another of the Bray County participants. "Lots of companies are moving there. Even people who moved away years ago are coming back and finding good, high paying jobs.

"When I told my friends I was coming here for training, they were all for it," she said. "We see it as a way to improve our lives."

By Marc Ransford, Communications Manager