[ubuntu-uk] Could Linux (and Ubuntu) do more to encourage students?

[Caroline Ford]

Tony Arnold wrote:
>>
>> The other argument I hear is that we should be using the system and
>> tools that students expect to see in the big wide world once they have
>> graduated, and that, of course is Microsoft stuff. My argument is that
>> if we taught our students Linux, and associated tools, then businesses
>> would eventually move as new graduates with Linux expertise are recruited.
>>     
This is the argument we hear in further education too. We are to teach 
people what there is demand for - tutors and careers staff tell people 
to train in microsoft stuff as that is what the market wants.

Students leave college with IT skills and qualifications (=experience in 
microsoft products) providing a ready supply of microsoft qualified 
technical staff. College runs the cisco unix and linux course but there 
hasn't been enough students signed up to run it for the last couple of 
years..

Outside the IT department training in IT also = training in Microsoft. 
Lack of IT skills is treated like problems with literacy and numeracy 
locally - everyone is being trained in windows by job schemes etc. I 
have been offered places on loads of free courses to teach me office.

If one were to run a business using windows you don't need to train your 
staff as they come pre trained in office. The state, or the student, has 
paid for their training.

I'd love to know how much money Microsoft make in the UK each year - and 
what that works out as per head. Even the public sector's microsoft bill 
alone would be fascinating..

Caroline