IBM Journal on Ulitzer

IBM has announced it will make key parts of its software portfolio available in a cloud computing environment to more easily allow professors around the world to incorporate technology into their curricula. IBM brought together more than 200 academic and industry leaders at the conference to explore how best to integrate technology into all aspects of a college education so the next generation of global entrepreneurs will be differentiated by an education that applies technology to areas such as information management and business analytics, digitized patient records, and clean technologies.

IBM is working initially with 20 colleges and universities across the United States to help them use a new Academic Skills Cloud and will add additional schools over time. The new cloud will provide academia an opportunity to use IBM software at no charge without having to install and maintain it themselves. Cloud computing is a new consumption and delivery model inspired by consumer Internet services. Businesses are rapidly adopting cloud computing to use information technology and services over a secure network.

"The ability to apply technology will be essential to differentiate our graduates as they prepare to enter the work force," says Jeff Rice, Executive Director of Career Management at Ohio State's Fisher College of Business. "Fisher College has established multiple research centers where faculty, students, and business leaders can collaborate on contemporary business issues. Several of these centers focus on implementing technologies to improve business processes or commercializing new technologies. The convergence of faculty, students, and business in such educational environments is a winning formula for both higher education and the global economy."

Building on the recently announced IBM Cloud Academy program for educational institutions, the new Academic Skills Cloud provides academia access to cloud computing resources for workforce skills development. IBM is partnering with educational institutions to leverage the power of cloud computing and enhance teaching and research services with more efficient IT environments.