To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

DURHAM – Community College teachers and administrators from around North Carolina focused on science, technology, engineering and math Tuesday. The STEM Summit was part of a three-day conference put on by the North Carolina Community College Faculty Association.

IBM also donated $10,000 to put on the day-long event.

Community college leaders say the summit is focusing on STEM because that's where the jobs of the future, and many of the jobs today, lie.

"We can always do more in STEM and I think more and more people are realizing that, that maybe one of the reasons I'm unemployed, if I'm unemployed, is because my skills are down here and the skills that my employer needs are up here," said Wake Tech Community College President Dr. Stephen Scott.

Many of those jobs are at places like IBM, which co-sponsored the event. It is seeing huge growth in industries like analytics, a field that uses computer technology to solve problems in business and industry.

"IBM has created a business analytics organization community and staffed that to the tune of over 8,000 individuals,” said Stephen Gold said of IBM. “Probably one of the most daunting challenges that group faces is finding folks in the workplace that have those core skills."

Community colleges across the state have been hearing similar stories and are adding more STEM courses.

"We're partnering with IBM," Scott said. "We're partnering with other community colleges to see what the job market demands, then we will build a program around those demands or needs."

In fact, Wake Tech is starting an analytics program in 2012.

The conference also looked at emerging fields like health informatics, nanotechnology and biomedical, all in need of skilled workers.

"We can educate our students better and our students are going to drive our economy and improve that and help us once again be a thriving state,” said President of the N.C. Community College Faculty Association Benita Budd.