Who
Oracle is the world’s largest enterprise software company, providing over 275,000 customers in 145 countries with the most up-to-date and accurate information from their IT systems.  In the UK, their head office is in Reading and they have offices in London, Edinburgh, Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester. They have 49,872 employees.

What
In October 2000 Oracle established the Oracle Education Foundation to support technology education, which fosters students' love of learning and their sense of citizenship in a global community. A programme called Think.com fosters communication, collaboration, and creativity in a structured educational environment overseen by parents and teachers.

Oracle has founded a strategic partnership with SQA to provide Oracle curriculum in all schools in Scotland. This will help bridge the IT skills gap in Scotland as identified by the Scottish Eskills council.

Students are exposed to technical, business and professional skills that are used in a variety of industries and job roles. Advanced students have the opportunity to pursue Oracle certification – a distinction that provides an additional competitive edge in the job market.

The Oracle Academy develops not only industry current high level IT skills but focuses on exposure to real business issues as a foundation for the world of work or Higher education. Students can participate from the ages of 15 upwards and the programme fosters a sense of individual responsibility for learning, teamwork and information sharing.

Oracle Academy news is published to employees globally through the In the Know weekly email newsletter. All internal employees in Scotland are kept up to date and are encouraged to engage with schools particularly those who are on school boards in their own local communities to highlight the benefits of the programme and encourage participation.

Embedding the Seeing is Believing programme in Personal Development Plans of Oracle managers allows networking and personal development opportunities for Oracle staff that participate in community care projects across Scotland.

Why
The UK Management Board leads and supports education, environmental and local community projects, which help to improve the economic and social well being of UK citizens.  In Scotland they support a variety of company programmes, Government-led initiatives, programmes run by our nominated charities and individual projects inspired by their employees volunteering. 

Oracle Scotland’s involvement with the Oracle Academy began as a response to the Scottish Executive’s Enterprise into Education report.  This acknowledged Scotland’s need to compete in a global economy by ensuring that the skills of young people were linked to business needs reflecting changes in the Scottish business base from a manufacturing to a service based economy.

Business benefits

• Oracle are now working with more organisations and businesses to help deliver the education and vocational opportunities
• There have been significant employee benefits in relation to continuous learning and best practice
• In 2006, Scotland was highlighted as an example of best practice in the organisation on the global Oracle.com website

Community benefits

• 200 students have studied the Oracle curriculum on the Oracle Education Foundation
• Education is the single most powerful weapon against poverty, intolerance and enables social development
• The number of organisations who are prepared to invest in and contribute to the education and vocational experience of young people has increased 

Website http://www.oracle.com