| Back in 2007, I wrote about a Harvard Business | | | | skills to fill technical support positions it was shifting |
| School professor's contention that the shrinking number | | | | from India back to the U.S. I wrote: |
| of U.S. college students studying engineering and | | | | Many folks don't have the inclination or the financial |
| computer science, along with a growing number of | | | | resources to attend college. They need to know that if |
| Chinese and Indian engineering students, presented "the | | | | they apply themselves in high school, they can still get |
| greatest single threat to American prosperity." I shared | | | | a decent entry-level job -- albeit not one where they |
| some scary statistics, including a study by UCLA's | | | | can expect to make six figures. |
| Higher Education Research Institute that showed the | | | | This kind of effort is needed in light of the fact that |
| number of incoming U.S. college freshmen intending to | | | | China, India and other emerging economies are making |
| major in computer science dropped by 70 percent | | | | heavy investments in boosting tech proficiency among |
| between 2000 and 2005. | | | | their residents, as noted in a recent article, I cited a |
| I interviewed Christine Bullen of the Stevens School of | | | | Christian Science Monitor article in which a VP with the |
| Technology Management, who suggested who | | | | non-profit Asia Society compared educational efforts |
| suggested that private companies, government entities | | | | in emerging economies to the one that occurred after |
| and U.S. universities needed to work together to | | | | World War II in the U.S., when the government paid to |
| promote IT as a career. That's exactly what appears | | | | educate veterans and invested heavily in the public |
| to be happening with a three-year, Microsoft-funded | | | | education system. |
| job training program called Elevate America. | | | | It's nice to see Microsoft putting some philanthropic |
| As the Seattle Times reports, the company is working | | | | money where its mouth is. Microsoft hasn't revealed |
| with state governments to distribute vouchers for | | | | the cost of the program but said it's "substantial." Not |
| Microsoft eLearning courses and select certification | | | | that it won't benefit, of course. Getting more |
| exams, such as those leading to Microsoft business | | | | Microsoft-certified tech pros in the field is a good thing |
| certification. It will work with each state to determine | | | | for the company, and it'll likely welcome the positive PR |
| how many and what kind of classes and certification | | | | following Sen. Chuck Grassley's (R-IA) recent |
| exams will be offered for free and at reduced prices, | | | | questioning about its use of H-1B visas. The company |
| with decisions based upon the demonstrated needs of | | | | has said all along that it and other high-tech employers |
| each state. First up: Washington, followed by Florida | | | | need more H-1Bs because of a "critical shortage" of |
| and New York. It dovetails nicely with the broader | | | | Americans with the right kinds of skills. |
| federally funded economic stimulus. | | | | * Like many folks, I get pretty sick of all the Microsoft |
| For somewhat less technically inclined types, Microsoft | | | | vs. Google stories. But philanthropy is one area in |
| launched a Web site that helps folks assess which | | | | which I'd like to see their competition heat up. (And I'd |
| technical skills may improve their job prospects and | | | | like to see more tech companies, which all tend to get |
| create a plan for obtaining them. It also provides some | | | | beaten up on the H-1B issue, doing so as well.) Nothing |
| instruction in tech basics such as using the Internet and | | | | wrong with establishing a venture capital arm to |
| e-mail. I think that's an important piece to the jobs | | | | provide financial assistance to tech start-ups, as |
| puzzle, considering that not all career opportunities | | | | Google did last year, or lobbying for policies |
| require an engineering degree or even a college | | | | encouraging clean energy as the search giant did last |
| degree but simply some basic technical acumen. In an | | | | week, but I like Microsoft's cut-to-the-chase approach |
| article from April, I discussed AT&T CEO Randall | | | | of helping job seekers obtain or improve tech |
| Stephenson's contention that his company was having | | | | education. |
| trouble finding enough Americans with the right kinds of | | | | |