What are some good ways for an employer to support developer education?

Question

My current employer pays for certification fees and college classes (provided that you earn an 'A'), but I'm looking for other things to suggest to them. Very few of us have time to take advantage of the college classes, and the material covered in certification exams isn't always the most practical information. (Code Access Security, anyone?)

Maybe a book allowance? Some incentive to work on an open source project?

In what kinds of creative ways does your employer provide for your continuing developer education?

See Also

How to Keep Your Developer Team Educated

Answer 1

An office library full of reference materials and books on certain subjects that you are working with is always appropriate and pretty standard practice.

And I would love if my employer paid for college classes.

Answer 2

They've purchased McConell's "Technical Ladder" and then added "rigor" by saying if you're at this level you need to have atleast a competent rating for Items 1-28

Answer 3

I like going to conferences. I'm in the Boston area and there are quite a few around me.

Answer 4

I've had great success in asking my employer to pay for the technical books I've bought. For them it's much cheaper than training, conferences, or college classes. For you, you're getting the targeted learning you need in the areas you're most interested in.

Answer 5

Here are some that I have found or would find very useful:

• Paying for dues and research journal subscriptions in a professional membership organization, like ACM
• Paying for technical books you've already purchased or will purchase (assuming they're relevant to your job)
• Agreeing to give you time off to work on an open-source project that might benefit the company, or which the company already uses
• Paying for conference registration fees and trips to developer user groups
• If you're a recognized expert, supporting your efforts to advance the field in general (e.g. being more flexible with time and scheduling so that you can write books/articles, etc.)

Answer 6

1. Setting up and seeding a library
2. Paying for developer related courses and certifications
3. Hosting or otherwise sponsoring technical user group meetings
4. Encouraging use of resources such as internet for research and development initiatives

Answer 7

The single most important thing a company can do for a programmer is to insist uncertified programmers do nothing but code, preferably under the supervision of teams of senior-level developers, until they get a certification.

Answer 8

I organise a weekly reading group for the programming team that I am a member of and highly recommend it. We read a chapter of a tech book each week and get together to discuss it and our employer pays for a copy of the book for each of us.

Answer 9

My company fund my masters degree and they also pay for sending me overseas for weeks-worth of training in specific technologies. It really does boost my learning and is an excellent way to keep me in top form. So, that's one way of being supported by your employer.