[ghuntley]

Universities.

http://www.ibm.com/systems/z/education/academic/masterthemai...

This international roadshow has been running as a HR lead exercise for the last 10 years or so. IBM wheels in a Z then students compete in a set of instructions and if student is precise; which is the key element of a mainframer they will get everything from iPads to instant graduate intake at one of IBMs customers on a high six figure salary. Again this is international it runs throughout the U.S., Brazil, Australia and Europe to name a few every year:

http://www.millennialmainframer.com/mainframe-map/

This is IBM essentially solving the generational issue that most mainframers are old, have retired or are at retirement age.

If you ever want to run Z/390 there's the Hercules emulator shipped with most Linux distributions. IBM also has the virtual loaner program and will provide time on any one of their mid/big iron boxes to free of charge to ISVs.

(Source; I'm a Node + mid iron and sometimes big iron guy that does who does the challenges every year for the tshirt)

[rbanffy]

> IBM wheels in a Z then students compete in a set of instructions and if student is precise; which is the key element of a mainframer they will get everything from iPads to instant graduate intake at one of IBMs customers on a high six figure salary.

Sounds fun!