Recent articles and blog postings bemoan the fact that kids aren't going to 4 year colleges to get degrees in some area of printing or not considering printing as a career. This is not really new. Printers have long told me their biggest challenge is finding good people who are interested in the business. That's a common story in many industries. And to be honest, "printing" sounds pretty boring to your average teenager--I have two of them, so I know. And after all, plenty of high school and even college kids don't know what they want to do.
There are a couple of issues with the paucity of young people entering the printing business. One is making it attractive, which requires an industry-wide program to change the image of printing. This requires a multi-year commitment from a lot of organizations based on proactive thinking and a broad commitment to making the business more attractive. There are lots of elements to consider.
The other, and maybe somewhat easier to address, is the kind of education kids need. If you haven't already, read Pete Rivard's recent column in On Demand Journal to see how his school, Dunwoody College of Technology, is changing the way kids interested in printing and graphic arts are learning. While the program Pete refers to is relatively new, it seems successful and is worth examining as a model for how printing and graphic arts can be taught--and made exciting.
The analogy to plumbing in Pat Henry's blog entry here on the PrintCEO Blog is an important one. Printing has always been a craft, a trade. While digital technology has changed that, getting the most out of computer-based design tools and digital presses is still a function of skill and training. Make that technical skill and training.
I liken the aptitudes needed for kids entering the printing industry today to those needed by automotive technicians. They are decidedly not "mechanics" any longer. Most have extensive training in electronics and computer diagnostics, not just twisting wrenches. The good ones know how systems in modern vehicles interrelate and how to solve problems. But they generally don't go to a 4 year college. They go to a vocational school or a 2-year tech college and supplement that with on-the-job experience and training from car manufacturers. In fact, Toyota and Honda have invested in programs at technical colleges around the country. The kids graduate with the basic certification needed to work on Toyotas or Hondas and that feeds the entry level jobs at dealerships. Sort of a farm system for dealer technicians.
Imagine if the digital press manufacturers did the same kind of thing, and showed not only how to run a NexGendigo 9000 but the elements of how to prepare and produce cross-media campaigns, direct mail, trans-promo and other key applications. It would teach skills in all the areas needed to produce the types of documents that printers need to deliver if they are to remain competitive while providing a stream of press operators already trained--maybe even certified--on key digital presses. Correctly marketed it could even help bring kids into the industry.
For example, there's a vocational school in Massachusetts that has arrangements with Cisco, Dell and others to train and certify students on their technologies. It makes for a nice transition from school to work. Maybe it's time for printing equipment and software vendors to look for ways to develop deeper partnerships with voc and tech schools in key markets to do the same kind of thing for future digital press operators as one way bring new blood into our industry.
It's up to our industry to keep itself relevant in a changing world and that includes how we attract new people and how they are trained. We need some new approaches. Maybe we can start by learning what the kids who are coming into the industry find attractive.
Discussion
By Rick Gagner on Jul 26, 2007
This is a timely piece, Noel,particularly since we find ourselves looking for a new digital press operator, and given the added short-coming that our local technical school no longer offers a graphics/print program.
Although we have existing digital presses, the incumbent press operators are converts from the offset world - more craftman than technician. But, we're fortunate that they're good operators, who "get" digital and the challenges that are presented.
However, when starting fresh, looking for a younger man to step up to this challenge, it's stretching to define the appropriate qualifications that will suit the position - a match that will pave the way to a longer term relationship.
From press manufacturers, and now from you, we're hearing the same piece of advice: find someone who has a good technical understanding of computers and systems, and is a good problem solver. In other words, a good technician, not mechanic.
Thanks for the added wisdom. I think we've got a good candidate that meets these qualifications and I'm looking forward to having him join the team and add to our future success.
By yogesh on Jul 26, 2007
well Friends.. Thats right feeling for Printing Education. Let me give you my example. When i joined my Diploma in Printing , i was really worry about my career.. The fact is also that.. the kind of education or say level is being taught in colleges is very poor and does not have much emphasized on modern prinitng technology and research. i was on the track to change my Diploma printing to Mechanical Diploma. But those days , i found one International Printing Exhibition in our city. i visited.. and Wow.. What a amazing world of printing in front of my eyes. That day i decided to continue my diploma and later i did my printing Engineering from India's most reputed Printing Engineering college, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal University. And with time i could learn many things about printing Technology, Management and Much more and now able to to any kind of Projects on Printing Industry, SO this was my Story about Choosing Printing Technology Education. The fact is that.. Industry People are also responsible to less interest for Printing Education. After Spending 4 years in an Engineering .. One should get very good Salary Package and Very good Projects on Hand to prove his/her Ability. But some lucky guys only get this Opportunity. (Like Me) In Engineering Colleges where Printing Education is given .. They should also emphasized on other parts of Engineering like .. Theory of Machine, Electrical Drives and Control, Electronics, Computer Programming, Graphics, Media, in short everything related to Printing Industry to broaden Career prospectus in Printing Field. In India one can easily find this type of Engineering Course Structure. For more information you can log on to Indian engineering Colleges like www.mitprinting.org There are many things to appreciate and many things to blame over Printing Education.. but lets Stop for a While....
By Robert Seymour on Jul 27, 2007
Mr. Ward, are you free to release the name of the technical school in Massachusetts that has ties to Cisco and Dell? Our community has a new technical college and we are looking to expand the curriculum in hopes of attracting companies using high tech systems in their manufacturing processes. A young man who interned with my company for two years graduated from Clemson with a major in computer science. He recently visited us and was driving a new Jaguar. Unfortunately, he had accepted a job 210 miles from home so he could afford it.