FedEx Institute of Technology Collaborates With Community Partners To Advance Technology Skills and Competencies
April 20, 2016 - The University of Memphis, through the FedEx Institute of Technology, shares a goal with several community organizations in seeking to advance technological skills and competencies. This common goal will encourage technology businesses to locate in the region. The FedEx Institute of Technology is partnering with two regional non-profit professional organizations also dedicated to this goal.
Tech901 is a non-profit organization with a charter to train current or potential Memphians for a variety of information technology jobs, and to work with employers to increase the technology job base in Memphis. The Memphis Technology Foundation is a group of professionals in Memphis with a strong interest in staying at the cutting edge of emerging technology. They are user group leaders and participants interested in learning and growing the community from a technology perspective. A celebration of these partnerships is planned for Monday, April 25, at 4 p.m. at the FedEx Institute of Technology Fishbowl.
Some key elements of these partnerships include:
The FedEx Institute of Technology will partner with Tech901 to offer A++ and Comp TIA industry certifications both to UofM undergraduates and local high school students in efforts to increase the regional pool of technology talent. These industry certifications will also help increase the pool of students who can move on to further their education in the technology academic programs at the University of Memphis.
The FedEx Institute of Technology will partner with the Memphis Technology Foundation to offer monthly user group meetings of technology professionals focusing on the latest concepts and developments in cutting-edge areas such as machine learning, Python programming, R programming, computer game development and other emerging technologies.
The FedEx Institute of Technology also looks to partner with other local technology organizations invested in the growth of technology talent, workforce and innovation for Memphis and the Mid-South.
UofM President M. David Rudd said, "We need to signal to the world that innovative technology ideas are constantly being pioneered in Memphis in order for us to attract advanced technology businesses to the region. Such efforts also help our local employers such as FedEx, International Paper, AutoZone, Medtronic and others attract and keep the best technology talent in Memphis."
Community partnerships are a critical element in positioning the FedEx Institute of Technology as a hub for technology research and development. The Institute is an advanced technology and research organization that serves as the front door to the research infrastructure and innovation capabilities of the University of Memphis. It functions as a catalyst for interdisciplinary research and innovation in emerging technologies by supporting cross-campus research innovation clusters. The Institute is also home to the University's intellectual property and patent repository that is the focal point of technology transfer and licensing operations. The Institute enjoys a unique innovation partnership with FedEx, which sponsors the Institute for advanced research purposes. The Institute is the central hub for efforts to maintain a cutting-edge innovative environment in the Mid-South.
Contact: Mary Ann Dawson
901.678.1592
mdawson@memphis.edu