Business-education partnerships make the grade

by Anne Miller

Information technology drives much of a country's economic growth and contributes to a nation's international competitiveness. Building a strong, technology-literate workforce is of critical importance to building a strong Canada in the information age.

But today, Canadian industry faces numerous challenges. The Ottawa-based Software Human Resource Council conservatively estimates there will be approximately 20,000 unfilled high-tech jobs in Canada in 2000 due to a shortage of skilled IT workers. According to a recent COMPAS Inc. poll, more than 80 per cent of Canadians believe there's a brain drain to the United States, citing better jobs and lower taxes for the departure of talented citizens.

And while Canada's schools are struggling to supply the Canadian economy with the needed skills, some of the country's classrooms lack the basic technology tool of a direct Internet connection. Together, these elements are seen as key bottlenecks to an acceleration of technology advancement in Canada and around the world.

The case for business-education partnerships, therefore, is perfectly clear. The National Business and Education Centre (NBEC), a division of The Conference Board of Canada, describes most business-education partnerships as co-operative relationships in which partners share values and objectives, human/material/financial resources and roles and responsibilities in order to achieve desired learning outcomes. They may involve other education stakeholders as partners, including students, employees, parents, communities, labour and government organizations.

"Business-education partnerships are mutually beneficial relationships between employers and educators that enhance learning for students and other learners," states an NBEC brochure entitled Operating Principles for Business Education Partnerships.

Brian McKinnon agrees. As principal of partnerships at Lakehead District School Board in Thunder Bay, Ont., his job is to seek out alliances with business and government organizations to ready students for the working world.

Over the past few years, Lakehead has worked with industry and government to develop a number of unique business-education partnerships. The Hospitality and Tourism Network, for example, involves a partnership between the school board and eight major hotels in the Thunder Bay area to give Grade 12 students hands-on hospitality training. The Northern Nishnawbe Education Council combines the efforts of the school board and the community to offer supplementary counsellors and tutors to students from remote boards who have moved to Thunder Bay to continue their schooling.

"The purpose of a partnership is to benefit learners, though it is a given that both partnering organizations can - and should - benefit from the association," says McKinnon, a former high school principal who took on the newly-created position last year. "For instance, partnerships for IT training offer students real-life experiences to prepare them for the workforce while businesses receive the skilled workers they are seeking."

This year, 150 students at six Lakehead public high schools will take part in yet another important business-education partnership. The Cisco Networking Academy, a four-semester co-operative program, teaches high school students how to design, build, and maintain networks capable of supporting today's national and global organizations. Students learn the information needed to prepare them for the world of networking, positioning them for immediate openings in a talent-hungry job market or for engineering- and science-focused college studies.

The Cisco Networking Academy is a prime example of private industry creating a mutually beneficial relationship with schools. It's not a short-term fix but an ongoing relationship designed to last because of the substantial benefits it provides.

For Cisco and private industry, the Cisco Networking Academy is a meaningful step toward developing desperately-needed technology skills in the next generation of workers. For schools, the Networking Academy program represents vital technology support and resources to supplement limited funds. And for students, the Academy is highly relevant preparation for the increasingly technology-dependent economy into which they will emerge.

Businesses must become more involved in the education process in order to give students the best learning environment possible. In its publication Investing in Education: Five Things You Can Do, The National Business and Education Centre encourages educators to become champions for learning and advocates for students. Among the suggestions: talk specifically about the benefits of education and the required investment; help students see how they can use their strengths to build their futures; and, partner with employers and community organizations to broaden the educators' experience and learn new skills.

Employers, too, must do their part to become champions for education, says the NBEC. "Partner with schools, colleges and universities in your community. Share resources and provide opportunities for students and teachers to learn first-hand about the world of work. Participate in co-op, apprenticeship, intern, mentoring and other programs. Demonstrate that working hard and doing well in school counts. Help ensure that students have access to the tools and technology they need, either in the classroom or elsewhere."

While the number of business-education partnerships in Canada is growing, most of the impetus is still coming from the schools.

"We would like to see more businesses involved in our schools," says Brian McKinnon. "Many industries are taking positive steps and it would be wonderful if more sectors took the initiative that Cisco has. By getting involved and providing both educators and students with the right tools of the trade, the value gained is tremendous."

Anne Miller is Canadian Education Marketing Manager at Cisco Systems Canada Co. in Toronto. She welcomes comments at anmiller@cisco.com.

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