I took a course that was offered by SJSU & IBM in Spring 2007 and now work for IBM as a technical co-op, so they asked me to participate in the media roundtable announcing the collaboration between IBM and SJSU.
IBM Press Release:
http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/25184.wss
IBM Teams With Universities in California, Illinois and China to Help Students Prepare for Careers in Business and IT
SAN MATEO, CA - 22 Sep 2008: Researchers at IBM's (NYSE: IBM) Silicon Valley Lab have teamed with educators from San Jose State University, California State University Long Beach and Sacramento State University campuses, Illinois State University and Tongii University in Shanghai, China to develop new courses that provide students with marketable business and IT skills for the mainframe.
This first-ever collaboration of this type between IBM and these universities will help increase and prepare the number of qualified job candidates entering the workforce. According to labor analysis firm SkillPROOF, the average number of job openings for IT professionals in California increased 60 percent since 2004. This amounted to about 16,220 jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor. Employers are seeking job candidates with a balance of business skills such as consulting and management combined with specific "hot" mainframe skills including database administration, SOA and virtualization, to fill these positions.
IBM and the partner universities are creating four courses focused on using and configuring IBM's DB2 and database applications running on the IBM System z mainframe, the most powerful enterprise computer platform in the world today.
This project is part of IBM's continued commitment to cultivate and grow opportunities for database engineers, systems integrators, and business process consulting experts for the mainframe computing environment.
This Fall and Spring, San Jose State University expects several dozen students to complete its newly created Intro to DB2 for z/OS course which is also currently being taught at Tongjii University in Shanghai, China. California State University in Long Beach and Illinois State University both plan to incorporate the course into their respective Enterprise Computing programs this winter with other schools to follow. The remaining three courses will be available later this year and into 2009 at all four institutions. Topics include: Application Development for DB2 on System z and Optimization and SQL Performance for DB2 for z/OS. IBM is currently putting a team together to develop a fourth course called DB2 for z/OS Database Administration to be completed in Fall, 2009.
All courses were developed by the cross IBM - University team focused on developing key skills such as using and configuring DB2 and database applications on the mainframe.
"IBM is building skills for globally integrated enterprises by fostering collaboration between worldwide academic teams who are developing enhanced courses on skill areas that are in increasing demand, such as database engineering and mainframe experts," said Gene Fuh, Distinguished Engineer at IBM Silicon Valley Lab who oversees the collaboration. "As companies have grown more complex, there is a need to have a more detailed understanding of data generated by the organization. Helping companies unlock the value of data is what IBM's Information on Demand strategy is all about. Since IBM has built a track record of growing mainframe and database skills in emerging markets, the company is teaming with California's state universities to do the same in this hot job market area."
"IBM's first ever academic collaboration to develop courses that combine the complexities of databases and mainframes will give students an opportunity to get exposed to the kind of in-depth knowledge that will set them apart from their peers," says Amy Cho, a graduate student from San Jose State University who is preparing for a career in database quality assurance. "It's difficult for a company to hire new graduates that have no knowledge of these systems whatsoever. They'll have an advantage if they take these well structured classes to ease them into the industry."
Besides teaming on all four courses, San Jose State University is one of the first schools in California to implement a new interdisciplinary approach to curriculum design called Science Service Management and Engineering (SSME) with over 60 students taking part so far. The SSME approach gives business students exposure to key IT skills, while engineering students obtain a greater understanding of business dynamics. As a result, employers can tap higher value job candidates for IT positions.
Similarly, more than 300 business students at San Francisco State University, San Jose State University and the University of Southern California are now learning Business Process Management (BPM) skills with IBM's "serious video game" called Innov8. Innov8 simulates real-world business challenges using a video game environment to bridge gaps in understanding between business leaders and IT teams in an organization. As the 'gamer' generation enters business, computer science and engineering college classes, professors are using IBM's Innov8 as a teaching tool to attract and maintain student interest in services science such as Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Business Process Management (BPM).
"In a fast paced, globally-integrated business world, IT skills are important for a wide range of graduates around the world. In particular Computer Science and Computer Engineering graduates should have these skills as well as IT and MIS graduates. This is why it is crucial for academia and the industry to work together to get these skills into the classroom, whether it is China or Silicon Valley, and whether it is CS or IT," said Kenneth Louden, Professor and Chair of the Computer Science Department at San Jose State University.
Virtual access to DB2 for z Skills
IBM Academic Initiative members can now participate in the new Information Management instructor-led, online (ILO) training courses focused on data management. These courses allow members to interact with the instructor and other students in a remote classroom environment enabled by Citrix software. Students can also use voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) to communicate with instructors and classmates -- saving travel time and travel costs while advancing their skills. These resources can be found at: http://www.ibm.com/university/scholars/products/data/education.html
In addition, two of the courses developed by international academic teams on the topics of Application Development and Optimization and SQL Performance covering both DB2 and System z will also be offered online in 2009 through IBM's Academic Initiative's website.
IBM Academic Initiative faculty members world-wide can access over 1000 other hardware, software and services training resources at no cost by visiting: ibm.com/university/scholars/academicinitiative/
IBM Academic Initiative members may also participate in hands-on training sessions at any of its 40 IBM Innovation Centers worldwide. For more information, visit: http://www.ibm.com/partnerworld/innovationcenters.
Silicon Valley Business Journal:
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2008/09/22/story5.html?b=1222056000^1702377&brthrs=1
Friday, September 19, 2008
IBM, San Jose State develop program to teach mainframe operation
Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal - by Mary Duan
In the 1960s and 1970s, engineers who were experts at mainframe computer systems were common because mainframes were about all that existed. Fast-forward to 2008, and those seasoned veterans are about to start retiring in droves. Expertise in mainframe engineering has been overwhelmed by expertise in the Web, and companies are beginning to wonder whether they will get people needed to build and maintain their systems.
“We need to start training people now because in five to 10 years, many of our experienced people will be at retirement,” said Thomas Cotton, director of mainframe strategy at Charles Schwab & Co. “You can’t just come out of college and hit the ground running in this arena. It takes years to develop the skills and it’s of utmost importance to Schwab and industry around the world. “It can’t be underestimated the importance that universities give students the basic skills,” Cotton said.
To deal with that challenge, IBM has worked with San Jose State University and 400 other schools around the world to develop a curriculum to give students the fundamentals of DB2 software for IBM’s System Z mainframe.
Jasminder Singh, IBM’s information management manager of DB2 for Z development, said the mainframe is the backbone of IBM’s core businesses. Its scalability and resiliency make it an excellent choice to support mission-critical applications, he said.
IBM also has shown mainframe revenue growth for seven of the past nine quarters. In 2007, 600 new applications were introduced for the IBM mainframe.
System Z mainframes are used at 59 world banks, 23 of the 25 top U.S. retailers and nine out of 10 global health insurance providers, Singh said.
“When I share these fun facts, it drives it back to the reality of the situation,” he said. “Who is using it? It’s all these big customers with mission-critical applications, businesses that can’t have downtime.”
Kenneth Loudon, professor and chair of the computer sciences department at San Jose State, said mainframes are an area that perhaps aren’t spotlighted well as people are much more familiar with the Web and the personal computer market.
“That backbone is kind of invisible, and as a result, students don’t perceive the need for the critical skills necessary to support this kind of enterprise computing,” Louden said.
This semester, only about a dozen students are taking the introductory course at San Jose State.
“We do have some enrollment this semester. It hasn’t been overwhelming because students haven’t been made aware yet of the extent to which they will need these skills,” Louden said. “I believe in future semesters there will be greater demand as word gets out.”
Amy Cho, a San Jose State graduate student in computer science, is studying database programming for the mainframe and doing an internship at IBM’s Silicon Valley Lab. The beta class she took in the spring of 2007 on application programming provided her with great insight into how industry approaches problems.
The courses “definitely will help students transition into industry,” she said.
“It’s a really exciting program,” Cho said. “Many universities don’t have courses in mainframe systems, it’s quite a specific market, and it’s extremely difficult to just jump into it. I think it will give San Jose State students an advantage over others.”
San Mateo County Times:
http://www.insidebayarea.com/localnews/ci_10503478
Video game helps students prepare for information technology careers
By Neil Gonzales
SAN MATEO COUNTY TIMES
Article Last Updated: 09/18/2008 10:07:11 PM PDT
SAN MATEO — A video game is helping area university students prepare for careers in business and information technology.
At the San Mateo IBM Innovation Center on Thursday, San Francisco State University student Andrey Lyubimov played a simulation on a large screen in which he came across various "co-workers" at a call center — some helpful but others not so much, including a character more interested in getting coffee than addressing a crisis.
In an interactive way, the program teaches students how to make decisions and gather information when they face various obstacles in the workplace.
The IBM-developed program is part of a new collaboration between universities and the information-technology industry to fill positions for database developers and other computer-systems experts.
At the center, Lyubimov joined academics and professionals in exploring this collaboration.
The partnership has "really opened up a whole great deal of knowledge of how things can be done technology-wise and on the business side," said Lyubimov, who is majoring in finance and information systems at San Francisco State.
More than 300 students at San Francisco State, San Jose State University and University of Southern California are now learning real-world business scenarios with the simulation called Innov8, according to IBM.
"It's taking video-game technology but applying it to business," said Chris Badger, an official for San
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Mateo-based Forterra Systems Inc., an IBM partner.
"It's a fantastic new medium to train new employees and solve business problems that are very complex."
The partnership has also led to new courses focused on database applications at San Francisco State and other higher-education institutions. The courses are designed to provide students with the latest business and information-technology skills.
The industry needs "to collaborate with universities," said Amy Cho, a San Jose State computer-science graduate student.
"It helps students get up-to-date and makes them more marketable to get jobs."
IBM spokeswoman Jennifer Clemente noted that, according to the labor-analysis firm SkillProof in Connecticut, the average number of job openings for information-technology professionals in California increased by nearly 70 percent between 2004 and 2007.
By working with those in the industry, educators are realizing what kinds of students employers are looking to hire, said Stephen Kwan, a professor in the College of Business Management Information Systems at San Jose State. "We're doing a better job in preparing our students and developing curriculum that's relevant to their job search."
New America Media:
http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=13d509017510466bbfe9eec83de59ed9
U.S. Colleges Turn to China for IT Training
New America Media, News Report, Donal Brown, Posted: Oct 08, 2008
SAN MATEO, Calif. – The United States, faced with a shortage of IT workers, is turning to China to train its students in information technology.
American colleges are seeking help from a Chinese scholar to design curricula to train students in the United States in crucial areas of information technology and database administration.
IBM, which made the announcement in September, hopes that this will provide them with a high-tech work force. The courses will also be taught to university students in China, who may be hired by companies like IBM that have prominent enterprises there.
The labor analysis firm, SkillPROOF, reports that in California alone, the average number of job openings for IT professionals in 2008 is 16,220. This represents a 60 percent increase since 2004. There are currently 140,000 IT job openings nationally. There is an additional incentive to find new workers as an entire generation of IT professionals reaches retirement age.
While technology training is the focus of courses at U.S. universities, Chinese universities will also emphasize working collaboratively, a skill that is required in many IT jobs.
Min Wang, who is pursuing a doctorate at Tongjii University in Shanghai, says that since most of the world’s largest companies maintain a presence in China, it is important for Chinese universities to educate their students in IT and business skills. But, he adds, they also need to learn to work cooperatively across borders.
IBM is heavily invested in China with its China Research Laboratory, established in 1995, and with Intel, which opened in 2006 to help China exploit its energy resources more efficiently. To make these enterprises successful, the companies will need well-trained Chinese nationals who excel in math and are able to collaborate with other workers.
The need for better communication skills, Wang says, poses “a great challenge to China’s traditional higher education, which usually emphasizes exams and has relied on textbooks for dozens of years.”
To facilitate the development of appropriate curricula, Wang and another graduate student from Tongjii spent six months in Silicon Valley. They worked with Professor Teng Moh from San Jose State University and Hsiuying Cheng from IBM to develop a course in DB2 for System z – database software integrated with mainframe to allow for data management and the various manipulations of information that help a business thrive.
IBM is taking the lead in developing this course and three others, and informing prospective students of these course offerings at California State Universities in San Francisco, San Jose, Long Beach and Sacramento. The courses will also be offered at Illinois State University in Normal, Ill. They will train students to be database developers, systems administrators and mainframe experts.
Every business, from IBM to a small 50-employee startup company, needs employees trained in IT. The data from all aspects of a company’s operations including employee data, sales, stock, payroll, marketing, and research and development are fed into DB2 for System z and then analyzed through software applications.
Amy Cho, a San Jose State graduate student and IBM employee, says the training will be invaluable for students who need IT skills. Cho is studying for a career in database quality assurance. She will learn more than simple language for the DB2 query system, including how information is pulled up and which information to filter out. “It takes a lot of computing power so from the courses I learn how to filter out the information we don’t want,” she said.
At a recent press conference, company representatives and university professors from San Jose and San Francisco State Universities emphasized the importance of close collaboration of industry and academia to develop IT curricula. Much progress has been made in this area according to Professor Stephen Kwan of San Jose State. To make sure their courses met the needs of changing demands of the business world, universities used to hire survey companies, but companies are now taking the initiative to provide that information.
Cho says she gained much from the close relationship of San Jose State and IBM when she enrolled in the first course under development. “Dr. Gene Fuh of IBM came and taught the course on DB2 and told us how he would approach problems, and it gave us great insight,” she says.
Representatives from industry and universities agreed that it was crucial to get students involved in IT who were not only hard-working but had communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills. Both San Jose and San Francisco State Universities educate students by assigning them real world projects. Some companies even outsource their problems to universities through offices like the Center for Business Solutions at San Francisco State University.
The courses being developed by IBM and the universities to train students will be offered by the fall of 2009.
Min Wang stresses how important the collaboration has been for China. “Sharing the educational resource is especially important to the universities in developing countries like China, where the most advanced resources are less accessible,” she says. Wang hopes that the courses developed in IBM’s Silicon Valley Lab will also be adopted by the Ministry of Education and spread to universities throughout China.
The articles above were propagated to many other news sites so I won't bother linking those.
