IBM Teams With Pace University to Bolster Local Technology Talent Pool

IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Pace University today announced new dimensions in an initiative to help accelerate information technology skills among students in an effort to drive innovation among Westchester businesses. According to the Empire State Development and the New York State Department of Labor, there are 40,000 IT jobs available in New York today. This program is designed to help prepare students for this booming job market and spur innovation in the local economy.

A recent IBM survey of more than 400 CEOs worldwide found that nearly 75 percent cited deficits in their employees’ job skills as the biggest barrier to growth and innovation. Due to the lack of qualified IT skills in the marketplace, employers nationwide are being faced with increasing difficulties filling technology jobs.

In light of this situation, IBM is working with Pace University to enhance the curricula as part of its Ivan G. Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems to help students develop the skills needed to innovate in today’s fast-changing technology workplace. For example, IBM is helping the university incorporate the study of mainframe, Linux and open standards technologies so that students can achieve formal certificates of training. Since working with IBM to provide the latest IT curriculum, Pace has seen an increase in recruiting and job placements from local companies.

Through this partnership, IBM will also host a series of technology seminars, sponsor faculty education workshops and arrange for IBM professionals to mentor students and provide career advice. To provide students with an inside look into the world of research and development, IBM will arrange for students to visit its laboratories in Poughkeepsie, Yorktown Heights and Hawthorne, New York.

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