Collaborative: Multi-state Community College, University and Industry Collaboration to Prepare Learners for 21st Century Information Technology Jobs

南卡罗来纳大学和北卡罗来纳州的斯坦利社区学院将开发一个拥有可堆叠证书的2+2+2项目，以增加信息技术工作管道的能力。该计划将使来自卡罗莱纳州多个机构的学生能够学习核心IT概念，并使用虚拟实验室掌握基本的动手技能，为就业市场做好准备。卡罗莱纳州有着共同的增长模式，对IT劳动力的需求也在增加。IT在一般业务运营中的核心作用，以及整个卡罗莱纳州越来越多的技术和制造公司，推动了与新兴技术相关的招聘信息的数量。对IT专业人员有大量需求的主要城市，如南卡罗来纳州的哥伦比亚和北卡罗来纳州的夏洛特，相距不到100英里。该项目加强了具有历史渊源和共同需求的姐妹州之间的教育联系。它以统一的方式处理区域就业统计所反映的强劲需求。分布式平台和虚拟实验室的部署和测试将在卡罗莱纳州进行，有可能在全国范围内进行扩展和部署。首先，它将通过实践虚拟实验室和配套材料来丰富中学、两年制和四年制课程。这些材料将涵盖网络、平台技术和网络安全等高需求领域。课程将延伸到杰克逊堡，这是美国最大、最活跃的美军入境培训中心。第二，该项目将部署一个分布式虚拟平台，提供通过互联网远程访问实验室设备的能力。该平台将无缝地汇集和共享运行虚拟实验室所需的资源。第三，通过与思科系统、VMware、Palo Alto Networks和Red Hat等领先的技术公司合作，该项目将允许学生将真实的实践与专业工具和平台的使用结合起来，补充理论概念的覆盖。学生还可以选择获得高度认可的可堆叠证书。第四，它将制定一个由为期一周的暑期讲习班组成的培训计划，为教师在课堂上使用虚拟实验室做好准备。最后，通过与南卡罗来纳州和北卡罗来纳州商会以及当地企业合作，该项目将包括允许学生应用现实世界IT技能的实习机会。这项变革性的技术可能会为来自数百个机构的学生提供必要的信息技术设备和实践培训，为技术人员进入区域和国家劳动力市场提供便利。该项目由高级技术教育计划资助，该计划专注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NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The University of South Carolina and Stanly Community College in North Carolina will develop a 2+2+2 program with stackable credentials to increase capacity in the information technology job pipeline. This program will enable students from multiple institutions in the Carolinas to learn core IT concepts and master essential hands-on skills using virtual laboratories, preparing them for the job market. The Carolinas share a common pattern of growth and an increased demand for IT labor. The number of job postings related to emerging technologies is fueled by the central role of IT in general business operations and the growing number of technology and manufacturing companies across the Carolinas. Major cities with large demands for IT professionals, such as Columbia in South Carolina and Charlotte in North Carolina, are less than 100 miles apart. This project reinforces the educational links between sister states that have historical connections and common needs. It addresses in a unified manner the strong demand reflected in regional employment statistics. Deployment and testing of the distributed platform and virtual laboratories will be performed in the Carolinas, with the potential to be scaled and deployed nationally.The benefits of this project are five-fold. First, it will enrich secondary-school, two-year, and four-year programs with hands-on virtual laboratories and companion material. The material will cover high-demand fields such as networking, platform technologies, and cybersecurity. Course offerings will extend to Fort Jackson, the largest and most active U.S. Army entry training center in the country. Second, the project will deploy a distributed virtual platform which will provide remote-access capability to laboratory equipment via the Internet. The platform will seamlessly pool and share resources required to run virtual laboratories. Third, by collaborating with leading technology companies such as Cisco Systems, VMware, Palo Alto Networks, and Red Hat, the project will permit students to combine authentic practice with the use of professional tools and platforms, supplementing the coverage of theoretical concepts. Students will also have the option to obtain highly recognized stackable credentials. Fourth, it will develop a training program consisting of weeklong summer workshops to prepare instructors to use virtual laboratories in their classes. Finally, by collaborating with the South and North Carolina Chambers of Commerce and local industry, the project will include internships that allow students to apply real-world IT skills. This transformative technology will potentially provide access to essential IT equipment, and hands-on training to students from hundreds of institutions, facilitating the entrance of technologists into the regional as well as national workforce. 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.