IBM Big Data training

IBM hopes to help create the next generation of “big-data” specialists through a series of partnerships with universities around the world, as well as influence the curriculum.

Nine new agreements announced Wednesday involve Georgetown University, George Washington University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the University of Missouri, and Northwestern University in the U.S. IBM is also beginning big-data programs at Dublin City University, Mother Teresa Women’s University in India, the National University of Singapore, and the Philippines’ Commission on Higher Education.

They will result in a variety of programs, including a master of science degree in the business analytics track at George Washington University; an undergraduate course titled “Big Data Analytics” at the University of Missouri; and a center for business analytics at the National University of Singapore.

In its announcement, IBM cited U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics that found there will be a 24 percent rise in demand for people with “data analytics skills” over the next eight years.

While companies are managing to fill big data positions, there’s a caveat. “They are finding the candidates but a lot of what they’re doing is poaching candidates from other companies,” spokesman said. “One of the reasons I would expect IBM is making these partnerships to make sure there’s enough engineers to meet the demand they’re seeing.”