Open Mainframe Project’s Mainframe Open Education (MOE) enables students to learn from experts with years of experience through collaborative knowledge sharing on our GitBook platform. It’s a community that focuses on ‘open sourcing’ mainframe learning roadmaps and community knowledge transfer.
Led by core MOE members from Broadcom and IBM, a Student User Group was created earlier this year to discuss the different journeys into the mainframe ecosystem, feedback for project materials like the GitBook, and more. The team meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month, from 9:00 – 10:00 am PDT, for the Mainframe Open Education Student User Group (MOE SUG) webinar.
The September meeting included an exploration of the GitBook, where participants can learn topics such as “What is a Mainframe?” and dive into technical skills like Interactive System Productivity Facility (ISPF) and Time Sharing Option (TSO). These resources guide learners from basic concepts to deeper technical roles, including non-technical positions like sales and customer service, emphasizing the diversity of mainframe career paths.
A special guest, Kolawole Adebayo shared his journey from working in marketing with zero knowledge to becoming a full-stack developer and mainframe engineer. Kola emphasized the importance of continuous learning, collaboration with experienced mentors, and the role of networking in advancing in the mainframe industry. His story highlighted how his previous experience in sales and customer service seamlessly transitioned into a fulfilling mainframe career.
Kola also discussed the importance of leveraging collaborative tools and resources like Broadcom’s educational materials, IBM’s courses, and community support. He encouraged others to embrace mainframe technology, noting its resilience and critical role in global industries, including the 500 Fortune companies still relying on mainframes.
The SUG meeting concluded with a reminder that MOE is an open source platform for everyone, encouraging contributors to enrich the GitBook by adding new content and sharing knowledge across the community. With continuous updates, including new chapters on foundational technologies and real-time collaborative features, MOE remains a dynamic learning environment for anyone looking to dive into the world of mainframes.
Register here to attend the next Student User Group Webinar. (As a monthly webinar, you just need to register once but can attend all the meetings or as your schedule allows).
