Smartforce, formerly CBT Systems, announced yesterday the recruitment of an extra 215 staff over the next three years in a £17 million (€21.5 million) investment at the Internet company's worldwide development centre in Dublin.

The 60,000 sq ft centre in Clonskeagh was officially opened by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern. He said Smartforce's investment would encourage the growth of the computer training and multimedia industry.

The company, which employs 440 people in the Republic and 1,400 worldwide, said the Enterprise Ireland-supported investment would "position Smartforce as the world's leading Internet-based education company".

It involves a switch away from providing its product on CD to online learning services integrated with online learning collaboration with tutors.

Mr Bill McCabe, Smartforce's chairman, said the Internet would revolutionise the way employers train staff. "At present Smartforce has a library consisting of in excess of 1,000 educational titles."

Mr Ahern added the Government was determined the Republic would become a major centre for global e-business and related Internet activities.

Earlier this month, Smartforce introduced a series of Internet-delivered seminars on Microsoft Windows 2000. This followed an agreement with Microsoft in October to provide online continuing education for more than 600,000 Microsoft certified professionals using a dedicated "e-learning" website.

Yesterday, Smartforce was holding its value in midday trading on the Nasdaq at the $33 (€32) per share level, following a rise of more than 10 per cent in its value on Tuesday due to a series of analysts' recommendations.