certs and exams... recognition

Hey there... been asked a few times about GIS certifications and if there are any exams a GIS professional can sit to master the ESRI range of software. As in other software and hardware vendors like Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, Linux or Solaris... certifications help not only in finding better jobs but also to equip technically oneself with the product thoroughly.

I know in the GIS industry there are a few certifications out there... but many of them are theory based and not specific to any software. Its kinda popular in the US, I think. Also many Built Environment or GIS graduates do not learn good software skills in Malaysian university but only get serious when they start working. In universities... graduates tend to focus on getting the assignments done fast and not really use the full functionality of the GIS software itself. So they lack programming and database skills. As for me... I can consider myself kinda lucky to have Dr Lee Lik Meng from USM Penang as my lecturer in my final 2 years. He showed me the path towards GIS when I was at a crossroad between Architecture and Interior Design. He guided me towards the ESRI products like ArcView and ArcInfo Workstation then. Also we got to work with a few other fellow students in real GIS projects in Penang. We got paid a bit... at least enough to spend on a few drinks and cigarretes. I had to study ArcView using ESRI Virtual Campus then in the university lab... there were no formal classes or lessons on GIS and internet connection was scarce. Many of the lab lessons we received in USM were using CAD based software like Microstation, AutoCAD and some obscure 3D software. GIS was in infancy then.

Anyone from USM remember this 3D software?? I think it was developed in Malaysia, right?? Share with us if you remember the name.