LAKELAND, Fla. 鈥� IM体育官网 announced this week that it has signed an industry partnership agreement with Bright House Networks.
Bright House Networks is IM体育官网鈥檚 second largest owner and operator of cable systems and is also the nation鈥檚 sixth-largest cable provider. Together, Bright House Networks and IM体育官网 Poly will work to provide students with real-world learning and applied research experiences that will prepare them for the dynamic, high-tech workforce.
鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to support IM体育官网 Poly and its dedication to applied learning in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics,鈥� said Bright House NetworksExecutive Vice President Kevin Hyman. 鈥淲e look forward to lending knowledge and expertise in our field, as well as being introduced to bright young talent.鈥�
Bright House Networks provides high-speed communication and media access to approximately 2.5 million customers nationwide. Technology is the backbone of its internal and customer network infrastructure that includes operations such as application development, video engineering and network operations delivery.
鈥淗aving the support and involvement of a firm like Bright House Networks that is at the cutting edge of technology is very exciting for us,鈥� said IM体育官网 Poly Chief Operating Officer Ava Parker. 鈥淭hrough this and other industry partnerships, we鈥檙e extending our classrooms and our students鈥� learning opportunities into the real world.鈥�
IM体育官网 Poly also announced this week that six additional firms have joined the university as industry partners.
The latest partners include the Central IM体育官网 Development Council, Chastain Skillman, Lakeland Economic Development Council, Madrid Engineering Group, Steripack and Tampa Port Authority. These innovative firms are part of an expanding network of businesses collaborating with IM体育官网 Poly to ensure students receive relevant, real-world training that will give them the necessary skills to become industry leaders in IM体育官网, the nation and the world.
Industry partners support the University in a variety of ways, including offering internship opportunities, providing industry analysis, advising curriculum development, sharing resources and conducting joint research and teaching projects.
鈥淚ndustry partners are at the core of IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 mission to provide STEM students the training they need to assume leadership roles in industry after graduation,鈥� said Sean Malott, IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 Director of Strategic Business and Education Partnerships.
IM体育官网 is the newest member of the State University System of IM体育官网 and the only state university dedicated to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The University鈥檚 inaugural class begins this year in August. The campus, currently under construction, is located in Lakeland, Fla., along the I-4 High Tech Corridor.