InformationWeek

June 28, 1999

Government Recommendations To Encourage Young People To Pursue Technical Education And Careers:

Businesses could sponsor job-shadowing and mentoring programs

Businesses could sponsor career fairs for students and their parents, and career kiosks in libraries, shopping malls, children's museums, and other locations

Schools could take field trips to companies in high-tech industries

State and local governments and educators could identify K-6 pathways to IT and other technical careers, highlighting career ladders, job-market data, and skill requirements. Education and training opportunities could be identified or developed to help students move along these pathways, which lead to careers

Businesses could sponsor IT internships and work experiences for high school students

Companies could provide afternoon employment in exchange for education credit and intensive mentoring

Businesses could sponsor/cooperate on work-focused IT, science, and engineering projects at school or at the company workplace

Schools could develop after-school and summer courses in IT, science, and technology

K-12 faculty and businesses could work together to create curriculum, and have technical professionals from businesses and high-tech industries speak to students or teach a class or short course

Return to main story, "IT Skills Gap Demands Action."