Trinity College, University of New Haven to Step Up Emphasis on Technology
/Two universities in Connecticut, one in Hartford and the other in New Haven, are stepping up to launch new programs in technology – even as uncertainty related to coronavirus continues to impact college campuses across the state and nation.
The University of New Haven has announced plans to launch the Connecticut Institute of Technology — to be referred to as Connecticut Tech — as part of a university-wide effort to bring together several academic disciplines to create a technology hub that fosters interdisciplinary exploration and innovation.
“Our goal is to reinforce our standing as a destination university for technology education and research in the Northeast,” said UNH President Steven H. Kaplan in announcing the initiative. “Groundbreaking efforts like this are critical to preparing our students for careers of the future that haven’t yet been envisioned. We pride ourselves as a university on being forward-thinking and market-driven, and I am enormously optimistic, excited and proud that the University of New Haven will be leading this effort.”
Trinity College is launching Trinity Tech-Edge, the latest program developed as part of the Trinity-Infosys Applied Learning Initiative. Tech-Edge is designed to bridge the liberal arts and the future of digital technology by teaching undergraduate students and recent graduates core skills in technology and business innovation. The program this summer is open to undergraduate students or recent graduates of any college or university, and will be offered virtually in the initial offering this year.
According to Trinity officials, industry innovators and Trinity College computer science faculty will teach technology skills through a customized virtual program for students and recent graduates with little-to-no background. Course offerings include: Programming and Software Development Basics; Introduction to Artificial Intelligence; Cybersecurity Fundamentals; and Ethics, Privacy, and Compliance. On the business innovation side, participants will also interact closely and network with experts in the fields of accounting, marketing, finance, operations, strategy, and Infosys digital technology, learning real-world insights from across industries.
“Our goal with Trinity Tech-Edge is to equip talented liberal arts students with new skills and perspectives in technology and innovation,” said Sonia Cardenas, Trinity’s chief academic officer. “Liberal arts students are uniquely positioned to work in disruptive environments, marked by uncertainty and requiring creativity, communication, and agile collaboration.”
At the University of New Haven, Connecticut Tech will bring together the West Haven-based school’s undergraduate and graduate programs in cybersecurity and networks, computer science, data science, and electrical and computer engineering, as well as several research groups. The mission is to foster a technology hub that fosters and supports an intense focus on applied learning and research.
“Through Connecticut Tech, we are planting a flag that signals we will be the tech and education hub for the state of Connecticut,” said Ibrahim (Abe) Baggili, who heads UNH’s cybersecurity and networks program. “We are going to play a pivotal role in stimulating the state’s economy, and, beyond that, generating the highest quality students and research in the areas of cybersecurity, computing, and AI.
“Inclusion of these technologies across all curricula is essential today, when issues of cybersecurity and data breaches are impacting multiple industries and businesses,” said Baggili. “Whether it’s bank transactions, stock trades, manufacturing data, medical records, criminal records, forensic evidence, scientific data, or retail transactions, it all needs to be secure.”
Srikantan Moorthy, Infosys Executive Vice President and Global Head of Education and Training, said of the partnership with Trinity, “Infosys is proud to partner with Trinity College to create Tech-Edge, a program designed to build a hybrid talent pool by augmenting students’ broad-based liberal arts education with the technological skills needed for the future of work. We’re excited to be able to offer this program virtually to allow students access to top training and real-world opportunities.”
The program is to include a two-day Design Thinking bootcamp that introduces students to a human-centered approach to creative problem solving, and will culminate in a real-world challenge, solving a business problem for a nonprofit or company. At the end of the three-week program, students will receive a LinkedIn Badge to recognize Tech-Edge completion. There are also plans for a career development sessions designed to prepare liberal arts students for the future of work, which should provide a professional edge in today’s job market.
