Continuing Professional Education (CPE) instructor Annabelle Hasty discusses real-world applications of AI at Harper College's Innovation Accelerator Lab. (Courtesy of Harper College)
The world is changing faster than ever, and new technologies are quickly becoming part of everyday business. Harper College's Innovation Accelerator is the answer: a growing collaboration between faculty, administrators, and forward-thinking business leaders that prepares the next generation of professionals for the opportunities of the future.
Launched in fall 2022 Innovation accelerator“She works across the college to streamline and accelerate program development, particularly in emerging technology areas,” explained Dr. Susan Brock, Senior Director of Innovation and Development.
The U.S. Department of Education awarded Harper College a A grant worth $1.6 million in spring 2023 to support course development in emerging technology. These new programs focus on building future-proof technology skills so students gain industry-recognized credentials and are prepared to contribute to high-tech workplaces from day one.
Advanced tools and practical experience
Harper stays at the forefront of emerging technology by analyzing labor market data and meeting quarterly with experts on the Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) advisory boards.
Subject matter experts develop programs using market data, and training courses are piloted Community education And Continuing professional education Courses. Lessons are further refined in CE with student feedback before programs are evaluated to determine whether they are developed and offered as credit courses.
This process makes the Harper's Innovation Accelerator program unique, linking industry needs with continuing education and credit-bearing courses. It also resulted in a new college Cyber security degree program, which offers stackable certificates leading to a 60-hour Associate of Applied Science degree in this emerging field. The program, which was recently approved by the Harper College Board of Trustees, is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2024.
Meanwhile, programs in Artificial intelligence and machine learning And Cloud infrastructure Currently running or under development. Nanotechnology, quantum technology and smart manufacturing are all under consideration as topics for future programmes.
Michael Cornstable, an infrastructure engineer at Amazon, teaches AI courses to CE and CPE students at Harper. His students are a mix of professionals and retirees interested in expanding their AI skill set.
“We're not just teaching our mix of AI or what we think is coming,” he said. “We take a practical and ethical look at the future to ensure students get hands-on experience using industry-leading tools.”
Belt councils: a vision for the future
To ensure the new programs meet the needs of both students and employers, Harper has appointed prominent business partners to join its BILT Advisory Boards – which include 10-15 members representing industry-leading companies for each program. Councils meet three or four times a year to assess the knowledge, skills and abilities of the workforce, improve curricula with Harper faculty and evaluate industry expectations 3-5 years into the future.
The first BILT Council at Harper College advises the Cybersecurity Program. Members represent national and regional employers including:
- Amazon Web Services
- Microsoft
- Gallagher
- Grainger
- Raytheon Technologies
“The BILT Council model makes very strong connections between the needs of employers and the needs of our students,” Brock said.
Businesses interested in participating can learn more at Employer partners Web page and Email Brock.
Teaching is at the forefront
Cornstable explained that Harper College is the ideal place for innovative, high-tech programs because change happens so quickly.
“If you're really trying to get the skills that employers are demanding in IT today, by definition you're coming out of a four-year degree,” he said. “Employers are looking for experience implementing using the latest industry standards, and in our flexible environment, students get hands-on experience with the latest systems like Python, PandaAI, and NumPy. These are the tools they would use if they were working for Raytheon, Google, or Amazon.”
Communication between employers and students through BILT Councils provides regular curriculum updates, networking opportunities and direct lines to opportunities.
“Employers tell us what they need, and we give it to them. It's a win-win as far as I'm concerned,” Brock said. “Our students are job-ready when they graduate with an associate’s degree and industry-recognized credentials.”
With the help of BILT boards, Harper keeps an eye on what's next to stay ahead of the curve and help all students gain access to innovative technology.
“The goal is to make sure students in all majors are technology ready for the real world,” she said.
Learn more about Innovation accelerator.
