The second edition of The Irish Times Business 2000 initiative received a warm welcome last night from teachers, business people and the Minister for Education and Science at a reception in the state apartments in Dublin Castle.

The Minister, Mr al Martin, said the project, a multimedia publication for use by second level business students, had helped "bring business to life in the classroom".

"Since its introduction last year this excellent initiative has been a valuable addition to the armoury of teachers at second and third level and in teacher training colleges," he said.

Business 2000 is an innovative learning resource incorporating case studies from 39 companies covering topics linked to the National Curriculum.

The companies, among them Guinness Ireland, Campbell Bewleys and Ford, were praised for their foresight and generosity in becoming involved in the project.

Mr Frank McKenna, chairman of the Business Studies Teachers Association, said that, used to its potential, "the project was having a powerful impact in the classroom". Business 2000 is used by 12,000 students in 800 schools around the country.

Ms Anna Gethings, the project director of Woodgrange Consultants, said that Business 2000 had surpassed expectations; "This has happened for one main reason. It works in the classroom. Teachers like it and use it. Students like it and use it," she said.

A teacher, Mr Gary Byrne, who had used the resource spoke enthusiastically about the benefits of the pack which includes a regular business feature each Monday in the finance pages of The Irish Times.

It helped "forge links between the boardroom and the classroom," he said.

Finance Editor of The Irish Times, Mr Cliff Taylor said the project represented an excellent alliance between the media, business and education.

Later the Minister, Mr Martin, paid tribute to The Irish Times who he said "helped keep education at the top of the agenda" with its various publications.

Also present at the launch were The Irish Times head of education services, Ms Sile Sheehy, Mr Jim Salisbury of Woodgrange Consultants and business students from Blackrock College and Fingal Community College.