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NJIT kicks off IBM Skills Academy, first collaboration of its kind on the continent

Published October 22, 2017 | Newswire

New Jersey Institute of Technology administrators, faculty, staff and students recently joined executives from IBM in the school’s Campus Center Atrium to launch the new flagship alliance between the university’s Martin Tuchman School of Management (MTSM) and IBM Global University Programs.

The partnership, made official on October 19, marks a unique collaboration between the two entities to deliver digital technologies and education to NJIT students through the school’s management school and Business Analytics Lab.

NJIT is the first university in the United States — and the only university in North America — to adopt the IBM Skills Academy, a key component of IBM Global University Programs.

The initiative is based on the workforce needs of today’s digital economy, which rewards people who can operate in business using STEM frameworks. Beginning this semester at NJIT, courses are being offered to students in three career tracks: business intelligence analyst, business process analyst and predictive analyst modeler. Additionally, students along with the nearby community will have access to boot camps and workshops. The technologies will be delivered to NJIT via the IBM Cloud.

“Being the first university to implement the IBM Skills Academy Program aligns with NJIT’s history of engagement with industry, which has resulted in dramatic impacts on economic development and has helped prepare our graduates for uncommon career success,” said NJIT President Joel S. Bloom to the day’s attendees. “This new partnership between NJIT’s Martin Tuchman School of Management and IBM is the latest opportunity we are seizing upon to provide our students with a workplace advantage by collaborating with industry.”

“IBM is committed to doing our part to expand educational opportunities so more students and professionals can learn the in-demand new collar skills that will help them thrive in today’s marketplace,” said Dr. Naguib Attia vice president of IBM Global University Programs. “After seeing this program’s success in Africa, we’re excited to be working with NJIT to bring the program to the United States for the first time.”

Participating students will be able to earn industry-recognized digital badges and IBM technology certifications for IBM tools, as well as the academic credits that accompany their classes. This certification and “microcredentialing” has the potential to provide a significant competitive edge and differentiate students during their job searches.

“Clearly, we are in a new era. Companies across all business sectors are looking for people who leverage and integrate fundamental business knowledge with technology skills to achieve success in today’s data-driven world of global business,” said MTSM Dean Reggie Caudill during the event.

Plans for the partnership call for eventual expansion beyond the NJIT classroom, making the digital technologies, education and certifications available to working professionals, veterans and other groups.

Rochelle Hendricks, secretary of higher education for the State of New Jersey, perhaps summed up the flagship alliance. “I’m looking at the future right now. Higher education has to transform, so that we’re preparing our students in real-time to do in-demand jobs with the kinds of skills that business and industry are looking for,” she said.

A version of this story was originally posted on news.njit.edu.