A. Harry Williams wrote:
Let's see if I can get this past Darren's filters this time.
From: "A. Harry Williams" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Organization: Marist College
Subject: Re: Kudos to IBM's promotion
X-LSVline1: On Tue, 11 Apr 2006 07:42:40 -0500 Mohammad Khan said:
On Tue, 11 Apr 2006 07:42:40 -0500 Mohammad Khan said:
Hi Tim
Here is one person who would like to learn but doesn't find any viable
options. The poster child of IBM education initiative, Marist College,
does not even reply to emails, the phone number listed on the web page
either does not work or leads to a fax machine. I can't just leave my job
an join a university but I can't find any offsite courses anywhere. I did
email to IBM education and got a reply that Mr. so and so will get me the
information. I'm still waiting for it, though it has been only ten days.
I'm not a newbie and have worked as application programmer for a long time
and can learn new things with minimal help. The problem is that I can't
even get access to z/OS. Is there anything IBM can do to help a willing
learner?
I hope I don't sound too bitter.
I'm sorry for the mix up. My day job doesn't allow me to keep up with
IBM-MAIN completely, and I've just noticed this message. (And the one from
yesterday). I'm not on the academic side of the house, but I've forwarded
your note off to people that can answer your questions. I've also
sent notes off to get the web page updated with phone numbers etc. If you
run into other issues, or others here run into issues of a similar nature,
send me email at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
A couple other comments based on items in the thread.
There are Scholastic Alliance components for all 4 of IBM hardware platforms.
(x, i, p and z). For all four platforms, for using in the classroom, the
software is basically free. There are hardware deals. For the zSeries,
there is also the Scholastic Alliance Hub, where colleges and universities
can utilize an existing z/OS system for their exercises and homework
assignments. That is hosted here, and is free for colleges and universities
in the alliance. Any college or universities that want to take part in the
program, I can get them in contact with the correct people at IBM to
participate.
However, Tim Sipples' comments below are very important. Colleges and
Universities that don't place graduates in jobs don't stay in business long.
If your place of employment cares about zSeries skills, it is important
to make that known to local colleges and universities, to offer internships,
and to participate in job fairs and finally hire some of the grads.
If your place of employment isn't doing that, it is telling the colleges
and universities that are its pipeline that zSeries skills aren't important.
Yes, and that's exactly the message companies are sending.
IBM can do what it will to provide skilled zSeries people,
but until it can turn around the perception of mainframes
as obsolete, slow, dull, and uninteresting, companies are
not going to be asking for these people because the companies
are planning to "get off the mainframe".
Kind regards,
-Steve Comstock
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