As Executive Director of IT-oLogy @ Innovista in Columbia, I’m extremely excited and proud to now be managing the CoursePower project. I firmly believe it’s a key to the future success of Columbia and the Midlands.
For those that may not know, CoursePower is an initiative that makes a minor or certificate in Applied Computing available to any student at four local colleges and universities – The University of South Carolina, Midlands Technical College, Benedict College, and Columbia College. The foundational belief is that students, regardless of major, should at the very least consider or pursue a minor or certificate in computing as these skills are in very high demand. CoursePower now makes this possible.
As a person that has owned and operated an IT consulting firm, and one that now works with the business community daily, I know first-hand the need for graduates to have a basic understanding of computing and the shortage that now exists. As a pipeline of students enter the workforce with these skills, local businesses will immediately benefit and be more competitive, and remote businesses will consider locating here.
Although it will be 1-2 years before the first graduates enter the job market, much of the hard work of putting the program together, marketing the program, and enrolling students is now being done. Thus far it’s been a tremendous success with everyone involved working hard together toward the common goal. However, we need more people and organizations to get involved and join the effort.
If Columbia is to remain competitive in the world economy in which we now operate, we need you. The race to produce IT talent is a fight we MUST win.