TITLE:
Meeting the Skills Gap with a Focus on ERP Education at SUNY; Farmingdale State College and Binghamton University
AUTHORS:
Jill Anne O’Sullivan, Dennis Goldensohn, Rachel Hinton
KEYWORDS:
ERP Education
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Business and Management,
Vol.2 No.4,
October
29,
2014
ABSTRACT: Serious considerations today abound about students in college nowadays who need to be better prepared for entry into the workforce upon graduation. Collaboration between private, public and academic organizations are generating new requirements and demands that must be addressed for workforce efficiencies. This paper provides a testimony to the success of this program [1]. The universities-industries-and-associations support in the conception, design and implementation of innovations is making for better preparation in the classroom. This grassroots type of effort to bring real world tools into the classroom should be supported entirely. If industry needs this type of prepared student, this type of collaboration results will be mutually beneficial. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the body of knowledge in support of the creation and development of relationships among different societal sectors. We have brought together researchers, professionals, practitioners and decision-makers from the Academic, Private and Public Sectors to share our findings, experience and knowledge in regards to the applications and impact of information and communication with technology tools. This paper brings together what has transpired with Farmingdale State Colleges ERP class, ERP Alliance collaboration with Synergy Resources, INFOR Global Solution, Binghamton University, Arkwin Industries and APICS NYC/LI [1]. Regarding Enterprise computing, we believe that collaboration is essential for successful use of this tool. Having industry provide access to the ERP tool, instruction on how to present and teach with the tool as well as the need for students prepared with this skill set is closest to the requirement than any other type of theory or concept offering [2]. Together this can make for better preparation at a time when college graduates are struggling to distinguish themselves and their skills upon graduation. Companies are hiring and paying more for this skill today. Students from Farmingdale State College and Binghamton University are having the opportunity to use one of the most prevalent ERP tools available today based on the collaborations and developed relationships with industry leaders. Together we are creating class corroborations with this tool to better prepare students with this virtual collaboration. Never before has it been more important to prepare college students for immediate usefulness to industry upon hiring than it is today. SUNY recognizes this fact [3]. Many academic entities are attempting to align their strategic plan with the power of closely recognizing what is needed by industry for prepared adept ERP students.