IBM's Plan to Transform University IT Education: And Spur Student Enthusiasm in the Process
IBM started its Academic Initiative in the 1950s when it helped universities create Information Science programs. It extended this program around specific IT and engineering skills and then, in 2003 added a Service Science, Management and Engineering (SSME) initiative which emphasizes the needs for universities to encourage multi-disciplinary education and the need to develop T-shaped skills that combine deep skills in one or more fields, plus a high-level understanding across many others.
It's easy to see the direct benefit that companies like IBM can gain from programs that teach System z mainframe skills, that Intel can gain from multi-core architecture design programs or that Wal-Mart can derive from the University of Arkansas' supply-chain optimization program.
But what benefits will IBM gain from encouraging universities to launch broad, non-vendor specific programs? The company's logo isn't on or necessarily associated with these programs, nor is IBM the first place most newly-minted graduates would look for a job to solve world hunger—unless, perhaps, you know about IBM's Smarter Food program and its projects to increase agricultural yields, improve sustainability, reduce waste through the optimization of supply chains and improve food inspection processes.
This report examines why IBM is encouraging universities to launch programs like SSME, healthcare management and transportation system design and what it hopes to gain from the newest phase of its Academic Initiative.
What You Will Learn
- Why IBM is focusing so much effort on its academic initiatives.
- How IBM is extending its university programs beyond IT and why.
- Why is IBM extending its Academic Initiative to support its Smarter Planet program.
- How IBM, its partners and its customers will benefit from the vendor's educational initiatives?