IBM/NC State joint Smalltalk program

When faced with a shortage of Smalltalk programming skills, the IBM Lab at Research Triangle Park, NC, USA worked with North Carolina State University to find a solution. What resulted was a joint program for Smalltalk object-oriented education centered around sound engineering and project work. That program now running for over two years has been continually improved by evaluating each semester´s results and making appropriate changes. IBM´s direct involvement as an industry sponsor included the development of course materials, classroom instruction and project mentoring. This involvement provided IBM engineers first-hand experiences with the students and allowed them to work effectively with NC State to adjust the program. This approach has proved successful in overcoming this technology´s steep learning curve, providing students with a foundation of object-oriented skills. The program has created an effective combination of an industry´s skill needs and the university´s goal of providing a solid engineering education. We believe it could serve as a model for other companies that have specific education and skill requirements