HootSuite and Syracuse University Deliver Courseware for New Generation of Social Media Professionals

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Jan 24 (MARKET WIRE) --
Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this Press Release.

Today, HootSuite University announces the launch of their Higher
Education Program and their first partnership with S.I. Newhouse School
of Public Communications at Syracuse University. This partnership
addresses the growing demand for social media professionals in today's
evolving job market.

HootSuite University's Higher Education Program provides professors and
students free access to HootSuite Pro and online courseware in an effort
to help increase student's digital awareness and build their social media
skills.

WANTED Analytics, an agency that provides real-time business intelligence
for the talent marketplace, states, "Social media as a skill set, has
reached new levels." The agency claims that over the past year, the
hiring demand for various social media skills has almost doubled.
Although there is an increase of available jobs, a 2011 study from
ManpowerGroup found that 52% of US employers had difficulties filling
jobs because candidates lacked the 'hard' technical skills required of
today's jobs.

Ryan Holmes, HootSuite CEO, chalks this phenomena up to the rapid changes
taking place in the job market. "Three years ago, the job titles of
social media manager and community manager were nonexistent, today they
are the hottest, high growth roles in business," he notes. "In preparing
for the massive demand by enterprise, HootSuite is excited to be working
with Newhouse School at Syracuse University, allowing each student the
opportunity to receive certification through HootSuite University."

Participation in the company's Higher Education Program allows Newhouse
students to complement the theory learned in their Newhouse social media
classes with the hands-on experience of managing their own social media
dashboard. "The value that Hootsuite University courseware provides to
students is the opportunity to engage with the material at their own pace
combined with the hands-on experience and technical skills of integrating
and managing multiple social media accounts in one place," said Dr.
William J. Ward, the social media professor at Newhouse responsible for
integrating the courseware into his classes.

During the 90-day program, students will have access to HootSuite
University's online courseware, which will walk them through the
fundamentals of creating and managing social profiles for businesses.
After completion of the course, students will have the opportunity to
earn their HootSuite Certification, which publicly highlights their
proficiency and provides them with recognized credentials to carry beyond
their graduation.

Courseware is made available to S.I. Newhouse School of Public
Communications at Syracuse University through HootSuite University's
Higher Education Program, which is currently in closed beta. For
professors interested in participating, please find more information on
our website.

More Information

Blog Post:
http://blog.hootsuite.com/hootsuite-university-highered-syracuse

Contact:

For more information about HootSuite, and to arrange an interview with
CEO Ryan Holmes, email: media (at) hootsuite (dot) com and/or visit the
media kit: http://blog.hootsuite.com/media/

To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the
following link:
http://www.marketwire.com/library/20120123-MediaCourseware.jpg

Contacts:
HootSuite Media Inc.
Sandy Pell
media@hootsuite.com
www.hootsuite.com

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