EDUCATION AND INDUSTRY SKILLS ALIGNED
Ensuring a highly skilled workforce is vital for sustaining the competitiveness of the nation's technology sector and fostering a steady stream of talented professionals. Driven by this purpose, the Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) has introduced the Curriculum Partnership Initiative (CPI), a strategic model for industry-academia engagement.
This highly flexible and scalable strategy enhances traditional classroom environments while reinforcing the significance of existing apprenticeship-type research programs. By partnering with industry leaders, the CPI ensures that students are equipped with relevant and up-to-date knowledge and practical experience. It addresses the need for a quick ramp-up to industry by providing students opportunities for hands-on learning, access to industry-standard tools, and exposure to real-world problem-solving scenarios, ultimately enhancing students' readiness and employability upon graduation.
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Responding to the Workforce and Skills Gap
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INDUSTRY BENEFITS
The CPI offers diverse collaborative opportunities in many areas aligned with industry. Established focused areas include digital design and tapeout (Apple), analog design and tapeout (Texas Instruments), and glass-based packaging (Absolics). Future opportunities included, but are not limited to:
- Circuits and systems for sensing and communication
- Digital VLSI and computer architecture
- Heterogeneous integration
- Intelligent platforms
- Machine learning
- Packaging
- Satellite communications
- Semiconductor devices
CPI investment can yield numerous benefits for industry:
Talent Enrichment
Generates students with highly specialized skill-sets, offering companies access to strong talent for internships and full-time positions.
Bridging Skill Gaps
Provides an avenue for companies to address skill gaps, ensuring that their prospective workforce possesses the expertise needed to overcome current and future challenges.
Sustainable Collaboration
Holds the potential for long-term partnerships, fostering collaboration on various fronts, such as engaging with faculty and students on additional research projects and outreach initiatives.
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CASE STUDIES
GT ECE and Apple Pave Way for Future Chip Development Courses
Collaborating with Apple, ECE has introduced the course ECE 4804 VLSI Design: Theory to Tapeout. The academia-industry course is one of very few in the country that offers undergraduate students an opportunity to delve into the intricacies of the complete VLSI design cycle — from system specification and architectural design to fabrication and testing. The course goes beyond mere industry training and directly addresses the escalating demand for expertise in real-world hardware design. Students experience the thrills, challenges, and satisfaction of prototyping a digital SoC (system on a chip) within the confines of a classroom.
"The course equipped students with substantial knowledge, but also fostered essential teamwork skills, closely resembling the dynamic and problem-solving nature of real-world industry settings."
- Fernando Mujica, senior engineer, Apple
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Student Analog Chip Designs Come to Life Through New Collaboration with Texas Instruments
As the semiconductor industry evolves, the demand for skilled analog engineers continues to grow even in this digital world.
To meet this demand, ECE is collaborating with Texas Instruments (TI) to launch strategic educational opportunities aimed at providing students access to industry-grade analog chip design, fabrication, and testing processes.
The collaboration supports ECE’s analog and mixed-signal design curriculum, including a new course and support for faculty and students through professorships and teaching assistantships. Students will further benefit from TI’s expertise through guest lectures, mentorships, and having direct access to learn from the technical leaders in the industry.
"This collaborative effort with academia will help address the future workforce needs in the industry, and also can spark innovations that will help shape the future of the electronics in our everyday lives.”
— Roland Sperlich, vice president for Processors Products, TI
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WAYS TO SUPPORT
The synergy between academia and industry not only enhances students' readiness for the job market but also strengthens the connection between educational institutions and the technology sector, fostering innovation and growth in the field. Be a part of the CPI's success by considering, among other options, the following avenues of support:
Philanthropic gifts
Develop courses, support faculty, and provide fellowships for teaching assistants, ensuring students receive relevant, and experiential education aligned with industry needs.
Enroll industry experts as guest lecturers and mentors
Bring real-world expertise and practical insights into the classroom, enriching the learning experience for students and preparing them to tackle real-world challenges.
Access to industry tools, equipment, and resources
Empower students to work with the same technologies and methodologies used in the professional world, bridging the gap between academic learning and industry practices.
If you're interested in learning more about the Curriculum Partnership Initiative, please contact:
Patricia Allen
Director of ECE Corporate Engagement
patricia.allen@gatech.edu
Jeff Colburn
Director of ECE Development
jeff.colburn@ece.gatech.edu
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