In today’s data-driven world, bridging the gap between education and employment has never been more important. Educators are increasingly seeking ways to prepare students not just with theory—but with real-world tools, technologies, and workplace-ready skills.

That’s where IBM SkillsBuild comes in.

IBM SkillsBuild is an IBM initiative focused on lowering barriers for students to access enterprise-grade technology. By providing free access to tools like IBM Planning Analytics (TM1), along with supporting learning resources and educator tools, SkillsBuild helps students build real-world, job-ready skills in data, technology, and problem-solving.

It offers:

• Access to IBM software at no cost for educational use, including IBM Planning Analytics through educational licensing
• Learning resources and industry-recognised credentials in areas like AI, data science, cybersecurity, and professional skills
• Educator dashboards to track student progress and create custom learning plans

Note: While SkillsBuild provides access to IBM Planning Analytics software, it does not currently include dedicated training content for IBM Planning Analytics.

These IBM-developed modules cover in-demand topics—from cybersecurity and AI to data analysis and professional skills—making it easy for institutions to embed future-ready content into their curriculum.

At Cubewise, we bridge that gap by delivering custom training, project-based learning, and mentoring specifically focused on IBM Planning Analytics. We help students and educators apply the technology in real-world contexts—from data modelling and automation to solving enterprise-scale business challenges.

A great example of this in action is our partnership with the University of Liverpool.

Cubewise worked directly with students and faculty to deliver a remote internship program, where students:

• Analysed over 9 million rows of application and retention data
• Built models and dashboards using IBM Planning Analytics
• Learned how to extract and analyse data using Python and Jupyter Notebooks
• Presented real recommendations to university decision-makers

Some students had no prior experience with Python or enterprise tools—but quickly gained confidence, thanks to Cubewise’s mentoring, structured training, and hands-on access to IBM software.

🔗 Read the full story here

At Cubewise, we complement SkillsBuild with our own deep-dive training programs focused on real-world modelling, development, and analytics using IBM Planning Analytics. Our hands-on courses go beyond the fundamentals—teaching students how to build, troubleshoot, and apply solutions in complex business contexts.

We also support educational institutions by offering:

• Expert guest speaker sessions to bring industry stories into the classroom
• Mentoring and coaching throughout project-based learning
• Guidance on using IBM’s free educational licensing for software and tools
• Support integrating IBM Planning Analytics into STEM, data, and business courses

IBM SkillsBuild and Cubewise’s training approach offer a powerful combination:

• Free access to IBM software and SkillsBuild content
• Real-world experience through internship-style learning
• Custom training designed to meet your institution’s goals
• Ongoing support from industry experts who work with TM1 every day

Whether you want to embed IBM technologies into your curriculum, deliver practical analytics projects, or simply give students exposure to enterprise software, we’re here to help.

If you’re an educator looking to:

• Bring IBM Planning Analytics into your programs
• Deliver real-world analytics projects
• Provide students with job-ready experience using TM1 and TM1py
• Leverage IBM’s free educational licensing

📬 Contact us at edu@cubewise.com to explore how you can partner with Cubewise and bring IBM SkillsBuild.