[IP] IBM, colleges: More top students needed
IBM, colleges: More top students needed
By Mindy B. Hagen, The Herald-Sun
May 17, 2005 9:03 pm
DURHAM -- With a critical shortage of Information Technology workers
projected in the coming years, it's crucial that university computer
science departments do all they can to attract top students to the
field, a local IBM official said Tuesday.
At IBM University Day in Research Triangle Park on Tuesday, leading
IBM officials and university professors from across the region
gathered to discuss new ways of marketing computer careers to up-and-
coming students.
In addition to hearing about the work being done at individual
university departments, the event provided a chance for small groups
of IBM developers and faculty to meet and discuss future research
projects and allowed graduate students a chance to touch base with a
potential future employer.
Gina Poole, vice president of IBM's Academic Initiative, told about
120 university educators that an additional 2.2 million people will
be needed in information technology-related professions by 2010.
"A lot of today's students will be filling those needs," Poole said.
"The demand is building up, but the supply isn't building up fast
enough."
University educators said they are planning numerous changes to their
computer science departments to help allow a wider group of students
to take their courses. At N.C State University, the computer science
and electrical engineering departments are seeing increasing numbers
of students opting for double majors in both fields. The computer
science department there hopes to "re-package" its existing degrees
while developing new courses and working with IBM to mold a
curriculum that strongly emphasizes "services solutions."
Duke professor Owen Astrachan said his department wants to pay
attention to "untapped" interdisciplinary alliances. Duke economic
students, or business students, could benefit from taking computer
science courses, Astrachan said.
"The slope shows an unbelievable decline in computer science majors,"
Astrachan said. "There are smart people no longer even signing up to
take our introductory courses. We need to fix it, or there's not
going to be a U.S. work force in computer sciences."
And that's the exact problem IBM is trying to avoid by partnering
with universities through the Academic Initiative. IBM has
contributed more than $30 million in the last 15 years to
universities across the state, supporting the schools' research
grants, equipment and software. The software and IT services giant
hopes its partnership with universities can lead to shared research
projects and allow experts to provide skills training and education
resources to students.
But IBM also hopes it receives a leg up in recruiting the best and
brightest when graduation day approaches. Pierre Mouallem, a doctoral
candidate at N.C. State, said he's indebted to the IBM professionals
who have spent time teaching his classmates "on-demand" business
strategies and providing funds for his university's computer science
department.
"You look at the size of this company, and it's one of the big
leaders in its market," Mouallem said. "They do a lot to help
students get a chance to work with them. It's really promising."
Sue Horn, vice president of the IBM software group, said her
company's relationship with local universities would only continue to
grow.
"Our collaboration with universities sincerely is a very important
thing for us that we want to cultivate," Horn said. "A day like this
is paramount, but it's only the culmination of what we do all year
long."
URL for this article: http://www.herald-sun.com/business/21-608287.html
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