What's the hottest topic in IT training these days? In a word: Java. IS managers and workers are trying to figure out where Sun Microsystems' Web programming language fits into their organizations, and their jobs. To satisfy the demands of hands-on techies and the curiosity of IS and business managers, the variety of Java training courses offered in the marketplace is growing rapidly.

Among the most aggressive training players, not surprisingly, is SunService, Sun's consulting and training division. SunService, in Mountain View, Calif., recently announced an increase in instructor led and computer-based Java training courses aimed at helping customers assess and develop their skills to deploy and manage Internet and intranet solutions based on Java.

Since SunService introduced its first three Java courses in January, more than 10,000 students have taken Java training at 108 educational centers worldwide, says Trisha Bright, SunService's program manager. "Beyond the traditional programmer audience, Java training is in demand by the business and management people in IT," says Bright. "That's why we're introducing new courseware at a rapid pace."

Other training services confirm the growing interest in Java. "I've never seen such (name) recognition of a technology so quickly by technical people and managerial types who desire to understand what it is," says Fred Michaels, training director at Greenbrier & Russel Inc., a national consulting and training firm in Schaumburg, Ill. Among the Java courses offered by Greenbrier & Russel are introductory classes aimed at showing business and IS managers the potential applications that Java offers their organizations.

Jim Schul, assistant director of applications programming at the Fort Worth Independent School District in Fort Worth, Texas, has sent two of his programmers to four day classes of Java training with Greenbrier & Russel as part of the district's plan to give students access to the World Wide Web. "It's something we view as important for us to learn as we build intranets and Internet applications," he says.

Even the IT industry admits the need to stay ahead of the Java curve. "Learning whatever I can about Java is a key component of my job right now," says Thomas Palmer, principal consultant at the Chicago Internet consulting practice of database vendor Sybase Inc. Palmer participated in SunService's Java training program. "Because of the airplay that Java is getting, as well as its flexibility across platforms, it's important to keep up."