WingSwept and North Carolina State University team up to strengthen local computer science field
Course creation paying benefits for students, partners, industry
RALEIGH (May 10, 2006) - When Jay Strickland, president of Raleigh-based information technology services consultancy WingSwept, approached North Carolina State University's Department of Computer Science faculty members last year to propose the creation of an advanced computer science course, even he could not fully anticipate the impact upon the school, the university or his own business. A year later, Strickland's partnership with his alma mater is producing computer science interns and graduates ready to tackle real-world applications.
With a strong belief in grooming future talent, Strickland began working with N.C. State computer science faculty in 2004 to establish a recruiting program for his company. While the program has produced outstanding talent for his growing firm, Strickland realized that something was missing. In considering the challenges the interns faced, he realized that young Web programming professionals required skills that weren't available through the university's computer science curriculum.
"In looking at what we require of workers on our staff, we knew that they needed some fundamental skills to adapt more easily to Web programming," said Strickland, a 1997 N.C. State graduate. "We approached the computer science department to establish a working relationship to design, develop and implement a course and received eager support for the initiative. Carol Miller and Jason Maners of the Department of Computer Science truly adopted the project and worked closely with us to ensure that the course was not only created, but that it offered value to those students considering careers in the Web programming field."
The course, known as CSC 295W, is available to upperclassmen who have completed their first two computer programming courses. The class is offered as a special topics course through next fall, when it is expected to be added as a permanent department course offering.
"By partnering with Jay and his programming staff, we have a wonderful opportunity to consult with industry and broaden our knowledge base, allowing students to gain valuable hands-on experience in the Web programming industry," said Jason Maners, a computer science program lecturer who taught the majority of the course's lectures. "We are looking forward to enhancing our partnership as we extend the course and work toward making it a permanent course offering next academic year."
About WingSwept:
The WingSwept companies provide full-service information technology consulting focused on interactive media and e-business systems. Headquartered in Garner, N.C., WingSwept Communications was established in 2000, followed by the incorporation of WingSwept Technologies in 2002 by its president, Jay Strickland, who has been in the Web technology consulting field for more than a decade. For more information on WingSwept's services, please visit our Web site at www.wingswept.com.
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