With the largest tech market in the world, the U.S. is projected to have approximately 377,500 competitive job openings each year for the next decade. Keeping students who will graduate from the School of Computer and Data Sciences connected with the industry and its key players opens a door to this expansive job market. When the time comes to make the logical leap from academics to enterprise, our Ducks will be ready.

April 16, 2024: Your Future in Tech + Connect

Students packed Tykeson Commons for Your Future in Tech + Connect, an event for students to engage with employers and gain insights into the future of the tech industry. Through personal stories shared by alumni, industry leaders, and experts, students learned what technical and career readiness skills are essential in today’s job market. The event was produced by the University of Oregon Career Center with the School of Computer and Data Sciences.

“Our goal is to help all students become career-ready; a task that becomes lighter when we work together. This event has been a standard-setting example of successful academic and external collaboration,” said Jon Ambrose, Associate Director of the University Career Center. He then noted, “When departments across campus work hand in hand with alumni and industry, we better prepare our students for their futures.”

Your Future in Tech + Connect featured a panel discussion comprised of alumni and industry leaders.

Panelists shared some of their own career journeys then fielded questions from interested students. Following the interactive panel, students networked directly with additional tech employers. Industry representatives provided maps of their career paths, shared insights about the companies they work for, and provided tips about the job application and interview processes.

April 18, 2024: High School Students in Pursuit of Tech Education

Connected Lane County recently partnered with the Department of Computer Science to host a tech industry event for students from Creswell, Cottage Grove, Bridgeway, Churchill, and Mapleton high schools.

The Deschutes Hall gathering joined students interested in pursuing tech education with companies in the region that rely on tech and data for their day-to-day operations. By helping students understand that technology, data science, and analytics can be applied to a breadth of industries, they can see how tech education provides a pathway to jobs that are both high-paying and plentiful.

Giving his full support, Eric Wills, senior instructor of computer science, "We are thrilled to partner with Connected Lane County in our ongoing effort to show high school students what the UO School of Data and Computer Sciences is all about. Students tour our facilities, ask questions, and get a real sense of what a career in the tech industry can offer them once they’ve earned their degree.”

April 23, 2024: TAO visits SCDS

The week of industry engagement concluded with SCDS hosting the Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) Board of Directors for a day of engagement across campus. TAO is the largest trade association of tech and tech enabled companies in Oregon. UO recently joined the TAO Board of Directors – this historic position is the organization’s first academic partner.  
   
Board members were formally welcomed by President Scholz and Joe Sventek, SCDS Interim Executive Director. A discussion followed; the focus was on student workforce readiness in a rapidly changing economy. Business of the day wrapped up with a network reception attended by faculty, elected officials, and representatives from more than 50 tech-enabled organizations including Cisco, Google, Lane County, Microsoft, and Trifoia.

“Industry is very interested in UO’s School of Computer and Data Sciences,” shared Matt Sayre. “Today marks a significant first step toward growing more exciting experiential learning opportunities for students and joint research opportunities for faculty."