Education

Since 1994, IBM has globally provided the Reinventing Education Program as a highlight of its social contribution program. This program is a joint project with educational institutions and supports the solution of educational problems by country and by region by exerting IBM's total capabilities such as technologies, services and know-how.
In the U.S., IBM has already realized approximately 30 joint projects with state governments and municipalities so far (as of March 2002). In Japan, educational problems such as environmental changes surrounding students, changes of social circumstances and execution of guidelines on new teaching guide have become more complex. While internationalization progresses, IBM gives support for education that can help children become adequately internationalized. At the same time, IBM considers it important that schools, families and communities as a whole should educate children so that these children can independently learn, think and act in the future. As IBM is one of the elements that constitute communities, IBM executes the following projects:

	1.	School, Guardian and Community Member Collaborative Education Project of Mitaka City In order to execute educational programs for students emphasizing integrated learning abilities and individualities as described in the guidelines on new teaching guide, their guardians and community need to positively participate in the projects. Our example introduces the support for schools that is provided by all the community member of Mitaka City.
	2.	KidSmart (Early Learning Program) IBM provides environments in which children can commune with, and naturally learn about, computers from their infant days.
	3.	MentorPlace Through MentorPlace, IBM employee-volunteers are providing students with academic assistance and career counseling, while letting them know that adults do care about their issues and concerns.
	4.	Support Project for School Refusal Students Support projects for school refusal students utilizing the Internet.
	5.	Education Support Project for Small Schools in Sparsely Populated Areas IBM conducts support activities for small schools in sparsely populated areas aiming at "helping teachers who are unfamiliar with PCs to naturally utilize IT in their daily classes".