Bridging the gap between education and IT careers
Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 |
Bridging the gap between education and IT Careers
Recently Fred Scholl, associate professor of information security and interim director of the graduate programs in Lipscomb University’s College of Computing and Technology, recently attended the 2014 Info Sec Nashville event to learn about the latest trends in information security and to network with other experts in the field.
While there, Scholl was interviewed by Clark Buckner of TechnologyAdvice and featured on a recent podcast discussing Lipscomb’s new College of Computing and Technology and the programs it offers to equip students for careers in the industry.
In the interview, Scholl noted that one of the biggest challenges in the computing and technology field is finding qualified employees.
“The issue is that the tech industry needs more people. And the question is where are they going to come from,” said Scholl. “That’s what we are trying to do at the undergrad and graduate levels. These programs are active in creating new opportunities for young people and also for people that are changing careers and for people who want to move up to higher management positions that are already in the tech industry.”
“I’ve seen what Lipscomb has been doing over the past several years with technology,” Buckner said in the interview. “That’s such a night and day difference. What a huge revamp. What a way to be a leading example of the importance of technology and teaching that.”
Scholl shared several challenges in trying to connect students with business:
- Understanding what companies need, especially in the areas of data analytics, information security, software engineering, and technology management.
- Looking ahead by focusing on job trends to try to see not only current demand, but also future demands, accounting for the fact that it takes a while for any university to enact changes to their curriculum.
In today’s tech workforce, most companies want to hire people who are ready to hit the ground running. Scholl emphasized that both their undergraduate and graduate programs are designed to provide students with all the relevant work experience they need to boost their resumes.
So what actions has the school taken to address these challenges?
- Undergraduate internships and programs: They have programs for resume writing and mock interviews.
- Capstone Project: This is offered in their graduate program, where the student works with a specific company to solve a real problem.
- Collaboration with startup companies: This is aimed at enabling computer science students to add value to startup companies.
- Consulting services: As opposed to traditional consulting companies, consulting is done through faculty members and students.
- Creative, productive space: They have a new, creative and productive space that has been carved into area perfect for small workgroups.
The new College of Computing & Technology, which was formed this summer from the existing School of Computing & Informatics, brings together the existing computing, informatics and information security programs—which have doubled in the last three years—and grow them with collaborations in business, among other programs. The college has already moved into a strategically designed, state-of-the art collaborative office, classroom and lab space complete with modular wall panels and a media room sponsored by Jackson National Life Insurance, located in the Swang Center.
A $500,000 renovation this summer resulted in the 7,000-square-foot innovative, open space allowing professors, students and industry and community partners to gather, collaborate, build and learn together. Every monitor throughout the space is wirelessly accessible for students and faculty to instantly connect their devices and share their work.
For more information about the College of Computing & Technology and the programs it offers, visit technology.lipscomb.edu.