Stream: Monaco
Time: 11:15 - 12:00
The global shortage of mainframe professionals is well recognised, yet building new educational pathways that genuinely meet industry needs requires far more than designing a curriculum. It requires trusted, long-term partnerships between universities and industry. This session tells the story of how South East Technological University (SETU) went from having no mainframe curriculum, no mainframe infrastructure and no mainframe industry partnerships to launching a fully online Level 9 Certificate in Mainframe Technologies with an IBM Z17 installed on campus in just twelve months. The foundations for the programme were built over many years through SETU’s close relationship with Sun Life. The opening of IBM’s new software development and research centre in Waterford provided the catalyst for conversations between SETU, IBM and Sun Life about addressing a growing shortage of mainframe skills. Those discussions quickly evolved into a wider collaboration involving Kyndryl and General Motors, creating a partnership that co-designed and now co-delivers the new certificate. Together, the partners developed an industry-led curriculum, contributed guest lecturers, practical learning activities and real-world expertise, while IBM strengthened the initiative by providing Ireland’s first IBM Z17. Combined with SETU’s award-winning online learning methodology, students gain flexible access to authentic enterprise-scale development on modern IBM Z infrastructure. We will demonstrate how the collaboration has already grown beyond a single programme. Building on these relationships, SETU and IBM have already partnered to develop a new Certificate in Building AI Systems, demonstrating how trusted university–industry partnerships can evolve. We will also discuss the long term plans for developing specialist mainframe talent pipelines and the beginnings of research collaborations. Rather than focusing on the technical content of the certificate, this presentation explores how long-term relationships, agility, shared objectives and a willingness to innovate enabled a new postgraduate programme to be conceived, developed and launched in just one year. Attendees will gain practical insights into building effective university–industry partnerships, designing industry-led curricula, securing organisational commitment and creating sustainable education pathways that address the long-term mainframe skills challenge. Whether you represent industry, higher education or the wider mainframe community, this session demonstrates that with the right partners, it is possible to go from zero to Z17 in just twelve months.
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Peter Windle is a Lecturer in Computing at South East Technological University (SETU), Ireland, where he specialises in enterprise software development, online learning and industry–academic collaboration. He has over 20 years' experience in software engineering, digital learning and curriculum development across higher education and industry. Peter has led the development of several industry-focused postgraduate programmes in partnership with global technology organisations. He played a leading role in establishing SETU's new Level 9 Certificate in Mainframe Technologies, co-developed with Sun Life, IBM, Kyndryl and General Motors, collaborated with SETU colleagues and Jonathan Dunne, Chief AI Architect at IBM, to develop a new Certificate in Building AI Systems. His work focuses on creating innovative education pathways that address emerging technology skills gaps through long-term university–industry partnerships.