Interskill is proudly part of the IBM mainframe family. Started by mainframers, powered by mainframers, partnering with mainframe vendors and serving mainframe computing organizations since 1991.
It has been an amazing 30+ year journey, here are some of the highlights.
Timeline
1991
- Development of an MVS Console Simulator begins in Melbourne Australia.
- Later addition of Computer Based Training (CBT) courses on MVS, JCL, JES2 and TSO/ISPF made our first commercial product.
1992
- EMEA office opens in Manchester, UK based on interest from a number of major European Banks.
- Expansion of Mainframe Systems curriculum
- Mainframe Application Development Programming Curriculum added
- VSE Curriculum added
1993
- Americas office opens in Orange County, CA based on interest from US Mainframe Organizations and Mainframe User Groups.
- Expansion of existing Mainframe curriculum
- AS400 Curriculum added
1995
- Headquarters office opens in Alpharetta Georgia
- 100 Mainframe CBT Courses Available
1999
- Y2K concerns drives significant investment in Mainframe Training globally.
- 140 Mainframe CBT Courses available
2000
- Web Deployed, Mainframe eLearning Curriculum launched worldwide!
- 150 Mainframe eLearning Courses available
2004
- Rebranded as Ajilon Learning, part of the Adecco group of companies.
- 170 Mainframe eLearning Courses available
- Mainframe Skills Assessments added
2007
- Returned to the Interskill Learning name as a privately owned Corporation.
- Named a CA Training Partner
- 180 Mainframe eLearning Courses available
2009
Key Speaker on the topic of “Mainframe Workforce Education” at the esteemed Enterprise Computing Community Conference sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
2010
- Web-based “MyInterskill” Learning Management System launched
- 190 Mainframe eLearning Courses available
- Innovative Mainframe Coaching and Mentoring Toolbox product added
2016
- Passed the 1 Million Mainframers Trained milestone!
- Named an IBM Training Partner via the Arrow Global Training Alliance
- 200 Mainframe eLearning Courses available
2017
IBM recognizes Interskill’s mainframe training pedigree & offers 30, IBM Credentialed, z Mainframe ‘Badges’ for Interskill course curricula completions, creating a new benchmark for z Systems Mainframe Knowledge and Skills in the global Mainframe Computing Industry!
2018
With 260,000 hours of IBM Z Mainframe training delivered over the previous 12 months, Interskill’s eLearning is now the world’s MOST delivered Z Mainframe training!
- 220 Mainframe eLearning courses available
2019
Interskill releases two innovative new mainframe workforce training components:
- Mainframe Training Sandbox Exercises that run on your own mainframe
- Mainframe Coaching and Mentoring Toolbox expanded to include Mainframe Class/Webinar Developer tool
2020
COVID-19 arrived and Interskill was there to support mainframers worldwide in this terrible time.
- Collaborated with IBM product managers for multiple new IBM Z courses
- Collaborated with BMC for a key new course
- Over 700,000 hours of IBM Z mainframe training delivered globally
2021
Alpine Investors announces its partnership with Interskill Learning. Interskill Learning is now An Axcel Learning Company.
- IBM announces that a staggering 80% of all IBM digital badges awarded for IBM Z mainframe training globally are for Interskill training completions!
- Interskill CEO, Darren Surch named a Lifetime IBM Champion by IBM for services to the industry! 1 of only 28 people to ever receive this honor, and 1 of only 2 people to ever receive this honor for IBM Z mainframe.
- Interskill is named by Training Industry on both their ‘Top IT & Technical Training Company’ Watch List and their ‘Top Online Learning Library Company’ Watch List.
- Over 900,000 hours of IBM Z mainframe training delivered globally.
- 260 Mainframe eLearning courses, videos, assessments, and labs available.
2022
Mainframe Certified!
- A landmark collaboration between IBM and Interskill brings the future of digital credentialing to the mainframe computing industry. IBM releases IBM Professional Certificates – IBM’s new benchmark skills standard for IBM Z personnel!
- Interskill is named by Training Industry on both their ‘Top IT & Technical Training Company’ Watch List and their ‘Top Online Learning Library Company’ Watch List for the second consecutive year!
- Over 960,000 hours of IBM Z mainframe training delivered globally.
- 300 Mainframe eLearning courses, videos, assessments, and labs available.
2023
- IBM announces that cumulatively over 150,000 IBM digital badges have been awarded globally for Interskill mainframe training!
- Interskill is named by Training Industry on both their ‘Top IT & Technical Training Company’ Watch List and their ‘Top Online Learning Library Company’ Watch List for the third consecutive year!
- Over 1,000,000 hours of IBM Z mainframe training delivered globally!
- 360 Mainframe eLearning courses, videos, assessments, and labs available.
2024
In a year of change, Interskill is staying at the forefront!
- Interskill collaborates with IBM to provide much of the training content for both the IBM Z Mainframe Skills Depot and the IBM Z Global Skills Accelerator Program.
- Interskill collaborates with Broadcom to provide much of the training content for the Broadcom Vitality program.
- Interskill collaborates with the Open Mainframe Project to develop a Zowe course and digital badge, and offer it free to the industry.
- Interskill is named by Training Industry on both the ‘Top IT & Technical Training Company’ Watch List and the ‘Top Online Learning Library Company’ Watch List for the fourth consecutive year!
- Interskill delivers over 1,000,000 hours of IBM Z mainframe training globally in 2024!
- A staggering 80% of all IBM digital badges awarded globally for mainframe training are powered by Interskill!
- 400+ Mainframe eLearning courses, videos, assessments, and labs now available.