The new initiative will prepare students to work in in-demand fields like artificial intelligence, data science, and cybersecurity, among others.
The University of Akron has launched its new Institute for Computing, Data and Information Sciences, its initiative to support and prepare students to work in in-demand careers in technology-focused industries, including computing, data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and information systems.
According to an article on the University of Akron’s website, Dr. John Wiencek, who serves as the university’s executive vice president and provost, was quoted as saying of the new institute, “The ICDIS opens the door for students to access transformative experiences in computing and information sciences. Through cutting-edge research opportunities, internships and collaboration with industry partners, students will be better prepared to thrive in the rapidly evolving tech workforce.”
The university received an endowment from the R.C. Musson & Katharine M. Musson Charitable Foundation which allowed for the establishment of the ICDIS. The endowment will also pay for a director who is dedicated to the growth of the ICDIS via partnerships, additional funding, and creation of curriculum. An advisory committee will be formed to help shape the institute’s development based on feedback from students, faculty, and others with interest in the institute.
The ICDIS is a collaborative, interdisciplinary effort to prepare individuals for a tech-driven workplace. Students and faculty from across the university will combine resources for research and innovation, leading to new opportunities and hands-on learning experiences, like the Musson Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Testbed and the Ohio Cyber Range Institute (OCRI) Regional Programming Center.
Dr. Linda Saliga, who is a professor and chair of the Department of Mathematics, said, “This Institute will allow our students and faculty to work together across departments in ways we’ve never done before and to experience ways that their major area of study intersects with other majors and the real-world application of what they are studying. For example, mathematics is at the core of data science, machine learning and cybersecurity, and this collaboration will help students see how theory connects directly to real-world problem-solving.”
For more information about the University of Akron, visit the school’s website.