It is likely that members of today's workforce will be disrupted in their careers by some new technology or new service model. Those disruptions are occurring faster and faster and coming from multiple directions.

That doesn't mean you can't retool and do some disrupting yourself. In other words, things change so rapidly now that there is more opportunity to cycle back around and carve out something new. No one has a lock on power or status or title for very long anymore.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES    »  Sun Academic Initiative    »  Sun Tech Days

The rapid pace of change in today's job market was the subject of a recent podcast by Dr. Moira Gunn, host of the NPR (National Public Radio) TechNation program, with career counselor Dr. Marty Nemko. According to Nemko, "serial specialization" is one of the keys to elongating your career.

"You need to become a serial specialist," Nemko said. "Today's specialist in technology is going to be obsolete in three to five years. So you have to learn the art of becoming a specialist again and again and again. Even if you can write well and speak well and work well on teams, that isn't going to be enough. But I think choosing your one little narrow area of specialty isn't going to be enough either. You have to use resources to get special fast."

Sun supports students in all phases of their careers to gain and retool their skills. Sun Academic Initiative partner institutions get no-cost quality curriculum and support directly from Sun to help keep pace with technology and differentiate their academic programs by offering education in innovative technologies.

Sun Academic Initiative Offers Flexible, Hands-On Instruction
The Sun Academic Initiative offers integrated curriculum solutions via a variety of delivery methods. Students can get in-class, hands-on instruction from Sun authorized faculty and participate in projects and case studies facilitated by experienced, technical professionals. Students can also study at their own pace online from any browser through the Sun Web Learning Center.

The courses in the Sun Academic Initiative Program help prepare students to become certified in Sun technologies, such as the Java programming language and Solaris Operating System. And that certification can go a long way in helping them succeed in the process of becoming a serial specialist. Sun Academic Initiative participants receive a substantial discount on certification costs.

The Sun Academic Initiative is a great way for students to get the "edge" they need for long-term career success, said Thulasidoss Mohandoss, regional director, Government, Education & Healthcare, Asia South, Sun Microsystems.

"In today's world of higher education, students are looking for more than just a degree or diploma. They are looking for an edge," Mohandoss said. "With free Sun technology training from the Sun Academic Initiative program and through seminars targeting developers, students from participating institutes can master the skills that will propel them into fulfilling their career goals, right from the start."

In Bangladesh, Sun Partnerships Help Create Opportunities
In Bangladesh, seven universities and technical training institutions recently joined hundreds of other participating institutions around the world to offer Sun training and technology through the Sun Academic Initiative program. The Bangladesh initiative was coordinated by JOBS-IRIS Bangladesh, a multi-donor funded organization that aims to create sustainable employment through private sector development.

"It is anticipated that worldwide there will be a shortage of up to two million skilled information technology jobs by 2008, including 500,000 in India alone," Shauket said. "Training in Sun technology is both a tool for personal skill enhancement as well as national economic development. As more students and career employees master new skills and become certified, this in turn creates a talent pool of well trained technical professionals that benefits the local economy."

Sun Tech Days: Building Developer Skills Worldwide
Sun Tech Days are bringing Sun experts for focused training sessions to a location near you. The World Wide Tech Day tour commenced in Seattle, Washington, in October 2006, and continues in Prague, Czech Republic, in November 2006 and on to Hyderabad, India, in February 2007. Attendees can choose from sessions on Java Programming, Developer Tools, Solaris OS, Web 2.0, and Open Source.

Tremendous demand and excitement surrounds Sun's World Wide Tech Day tour. For instance, in China, a recent event at China Academia of Science (CAS) Graduate School attracted 646 students and professors from various institutes in Beijing to celebrate the return to Beijing of Sun's James Gosling, the "Father of Java Technology." The attendees also got a look at new Sun products and technologies, including NetBeans and OpenSolaris.

"At the beginning of the event we had a full room with many students sitting on the floor and standing around. During the 3.5 hours some people left, but newcomers quickly filled in their spaces. At the end of the event we still had a full room, with people sitting on the floor and standing around. All the presentations were well received by the audience, and they were having a lot of fun with us," reported John Jiang, Sun Developer Network program manager, from Beijing.

However, you don't have to wait to attend a Sun Tech Day to begin retooling your skills. The self-paced lab portion of Sun Tech Days events are available for home use — log on and you can access a Sun Tech Day lab and begin your skill development at home at your own pace.

The Sun Developer Network Channel offers short topical videos and podcasts that zero in on tools and resources that can simplify your application development. Check out Sun's latest video interviews on identity management and learn about current trends, solutions, and challenges facing developers as they implement security into new and existing applications.

Sun has the tools training and resources to help you and your students to gain the latest skills to help in personal, institutional, and national retooling efforts.

Questions or comments? Please email education_news@sun.com