Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), a major urban public research university with national and international rankings in sponsored research, has recently joined hands with the Institute of Data, a professional network of Cyber Security, Data Science and Software Engineering professionals, to provide programs that will prepare nontraditional adult learners for careers in the tech industry, according to the press statement.
The collaboration aims to bridge the gap between traditional academic education and industry-specific skills training, providing learners the best of both worlds. The latest initiative offers noncredit bootcamps led by experienced instructors and industry professionals, leading to hands-on experience in cutting-edge technologies.
Speaking about the association with VCU, Vice President of University Partnerships at the Institute of Data, Chris Elam, said:
We are thrilled to partner with Virginia Commonwealth University to bring our innovative learning programs to their alums and the greater community. Our mission is to help individuals from all backgrounds acquire the skills they need to pursue successful careers in the tech industry. This partnership will allow us to reach more nontraditional students and help them achieve their goals.
Through this partnership, VCU alumni and other community members in Virginia will have access to the Institute of Data’s curriculum and state-of-the-art learning platform. Bootcamps will be tailored to meet the needs of the industry, providing adult learners with in-demand skills necessary to thrive in the job market. Full-time and part-time bootcamps from 12 to 24 weeks cover software engineering, data analytics and artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
Headquartered in Richmond, VCU aims to serve as one national urban public research institution dedicated to the success and well-being of the students, patients, staff and community. The platform enrols more than 28,000 students in 244 degree and certificate programs in the arts, sciences and humanities.
The VCU Health brand represents the VCU health sciences academic programs, the VCU Massey Cancer Center and the VCU Health System, which comprises VCU Medical Center (the only academic medical centre in the region), Community Memorial Hospital, Tappahannock Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Richmond, and MCV Physicians. The clinical enterprise includes a collaboration with Sheltering Arms Institute for physical rehabilitation services.
Judith Kornberg, PhD, Interim Executive Director of VCU Online & Continuing & Professional Education, commented:
Our partnership with the Institute of Data will allow us to deliver high-quality continuing and professional education programs to our alumni and other nontraditional students in the communities we serve. The skills training that individuals receive through the tech bootcamps will prepare them to enter fast-growing occupations as data scientists, information security analysts, software developers, quality assurance analysts, testers and related titles while expanding the pipeline of skilled workers for employers in the tech industry.
VCU Continuing and Professional Education, in partnership with the colleges and schools at VCU, provides and supports quality continuing and professional education and skills training for individual, local, regional and national impact, including lifelong learning opportunities for its alumni.
The Institute of Data transforms careers and companies for a data-driven world by collaborating with top universities to offer accelerated workforce training to bridge the data and skills gap through its focus on the industries of the future and its industry network. Together with its university partners, the platform arms its graduates with the knowledge and skills to help businesses and governments power the workforce of the future. The company has a track record of success in delivering boot camp programs and collaborating with universities. With a global professional network and the latest industry-focused curriculum, its partnerships are highly successful and beneficial to the university.
