The North Carolina Office of Information Technology and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T) are partnering to provide students with real-world experience in the high demand technology sector. The agreement creates professional development, co-op opportunities, and internships at the Office of Information Technology, the office that delivers information technology services to state agencies. Training programs for working professionals will also be established to help them advance their skills for today’s technology jobs. The university is also interested in exploring strategies to incorporate training for veterans into its core mission.
State Chief Information Officer Chris Estes and Ben Uwakweh, dean of the School of Technology, announced the agreement. “We’re excited about partnering with North Carolina A&T to develop the next generation of information technology leaders,” said State CIO Chris Estes. “We’re looking forward to teaming their students with our experienced IT workers in a hands-on learning environment.
North Carolina A&T is one of only five universities in the country with a mainframe for academic purposes. According to Clay Gloster, chair of the Department of Computer Systems Technology, “This is a tremendous opportunity for our students to not only gain real-world experience in the information technology industry, but also directly contribute to the IT infrastructure of the state.”
ITS will provide A&T students with access to multi-tiered, statewide networks and systems while helping them train for jobs in North Carolina’s growing technology sector. The agreement between ITS and NC A&T builds on a commitment by government technology leaders to cultivate and keep technology talent in North Carolina.