Since this pivotal study was released by AIM four years ago, much progress has been made at both the postsecondary and secondary levels in addressing these critical business needs. As a result, colleges and universities were reported on the 1999 study as being more responsive to business needs than they were four years ago. The results of the 1999 study will be shared with Information Technology professionals, education, business and government leaders in Greater Omaha, as well as across the state. All Academic Disciplines and Applied Courses were ranked more important than in the 1995 study. Training budgets, per I.T. professional, continue to increase.
Firms plan to hire even more four-year graduates and graduate students in the future.
To meet the anticipated growth in the demand for Information Technology professionals, education must develop strategies to respond with the programs and curriculum to meet the changing needs of employers. The ability to respond more quickly to match the fast paced changes in business requirements will be key to the competitiveness of Greater Omaha firms in the New Millennium. The AIM Institute is a membership organization formed to facilitate the changes and improvements necessary to meet the technology needs of Nebraska businesses and their employees. The 1994 and 1999 survey results may be accessed through the AIM web site or contact the AIM Institute directly for copies.