National Information Technology Innovation Center (NITIC)

信息技术（IT）行业继续面临熟练工人短缺的问题，COVID-19进一步加剧了对IT熟练技术劳动力的紧迫感和需求。根据美国计算机行业协会（CompTIA）的《2022年劳动力和学习趋势报告》，仅在2022年，美国的科技就业岗位就将增加约1240万个。在接下来的十年里，技术职业的增长速度预计将是整体就业速度的两倍。然而，对熟练工人的高需求却因工人离开该领域而受到影响。根据微软的2021年工作趋势指数，超过40%的员工正在考虑换工作，46%的员工计划进行重大的职业变动或过渡。虽然传统技术领域的需求正在增加，但也有新兴的工作集群。这些包括但不限于以下领域：人工智能（AI）、机器学习（ML）、IT自动化、量子计算、DevOps、金融科技、增强现实（AR）、虚拟现实（VR）、加密技术、物联网/边缘计算、5G和区块链技术。在全国范围内，IT行业存在多样性差距。服务不足和弱势的学生在IT行业的职业道路上没有很好的代表，这往往使这些人不愿追求这些职业道路。该项目将把信息技术领域经验丰富的社区大学领导与行业合作伙伴联合起来，创建国家信息技术创新中心（NITIC）。该中心将创建一个面向未来的实践社区，具有不同的视角和地理分布。NITIC将专注于新兴技术，同时加强和促进以前ATE IT中心的最佳实践。NITIC将创建新的可交付成果，开发高质量的教育材料、课程、教学法和教学资源，同时在广泛的信息技术领域巩固对现有材料的访问。该中心将利用经验丰富和新兴的社区大学合作伙伴，在他们的技术集群中担任领导者，以扩大合作，并为ATE社区发展未来的领导力。该中心将制作、实施、评估影响并广泛分享以下内容：1)创新交流中心，鼓励由商业和行业领导团队（BILT）模型驱动的新兴IT课程和材料，以提高雇主参与度；2)实践社区：促进共享和解决问题的IT创新网络（ITIN）；3)教师专业发展模式-工作联系虚拟和面对面的研讨会，以解决教师在技术出现时的持续学习需求；4)致力于增加IT行业的多样性和服务不足人群的代表性，包括退伍军人、女性和STEM领域服务不足的学生群体。该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划侧重于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Information Technology (IT) industry is continuing to experience shortages of skilled workers, and COVID-19 has further exacerbated the sense of urgency and need for an IT skilled technical workforce. According to CompTIA’s 2022 Workforce and Learning Trends report, U.S. tech employment will grow an estimated 12.4 million net jobs in 2022 alone. Over the next ten years, technology occupations are expected to grow at twice the rate of overall employment. Yet the high demand for skilled workers is confounded by workers leaving the field. According to Microsoft’s 2021 Work Trends Index, more than 40% of employees were considering a job change, and 46% planned to make a significant career move or transition. While traditional areas of technology are experiencing an increasing demand, there are also emerging job clusters. These include, but are not limited to, the following fields: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), IT Automation, Quantum Computing, DevOps, FinTech, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Encryption Technologies, IoT/Edge Computing, 5G, and Blockchain Technology. Nationally, there are diversity gaps in the IT industry. Underserved and disadvantaged students are not well represented in pathways for careers in IT which often discourages these individuals from pursuing these career pathways. This project will bring together an experienced consortium of community colleges leaders in information technology collaborating with industry partners to create the National Information Technology Innovation Center (NITIC). The Center will create a future-focused community of practice with diverse perspectives and geographic distribution. NITIC will focus on emerging technologies while strengthening and promoting proven best practices from prior ATE IT centers. NITIC will create new deliverables that develop high-quality educational materials, curricula, pedagogy, and teaching resources while consolidating access for existing materials across broad areas of information technology. The center will leverage a mix of experienced and emerging community college partners to serve as leaders within their technology clusters to expand collaboration and develop future leadership for the ATE community. The Center will produce, implement, assess impact, and broadly share the following: 1) Innovation clearinghouse to encourage new emerging IT curriculum and materials driven by a Business & Industry Leadership Team (BILT) Model for high employer engagement; 2) A Community of Practice: IT Innovation Network (ITIN) to promote sharing and problem-solving; 3) Faculty Professional Development Model – Working Connections Virtual and In-Person Workshops to address continuing learning needs for faculty as technologies emerge; and 4) Dedicated models for increasing diversity and underserved population representation in IT, including veterans, women, and underserved student populations in STEM. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the Nation's economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.