Social business technologies help people connect, communicate and share information, and is playing a critical role in transforming K-12 schools and higher education institutions. New generations of students use Internet social tools every day to communicate, collaborate and network with peers and family. They expect the same functionality within the learning environments of their schools, colleges and universities. At the same time, employers want graduates with the technology and collaboration skills necessary to succeed in a social business. So to prepare students for the future, educational institutions need to provide an environment that supports a social culture of reciprocity and sharing, along with access to the business tools that their graduates will be using for social media and collaboration. By implementing this collaborative approach, educational institutions can enhance teaching and research, improve administrative operations, and strengthen linkages between academia and business.

Scott Neumann is the Director of Marketing & Communications for IBM’s Central & Eastern European region.  His responsibilities include all levels of marketing and communications from advertising to demand generation to digital and social channels, spanning all of IBM’s business units.