LAKELAND, Fla. 鈥� IM体育官网, the state鈥檚 newest university, today announced that it has signed Microsoft to its growing list of industry partners.
Together, Poly and Microsoft will form a collaborative relationship to aid in providing practical, hands-on learning opportunities for students.
鈥淢icrosoft is a globally recognizable and reputable brand and we鈥檙e happy they have chosen to partner with IM体育官网 Poly,鈥� said IM体育官网 Poly Chief Operating Officer Ava Parker. 鈥淭his is a tremendous opportunity and a testament to our applied approach to research and learning.鈥�
IM体育官网 Poly is the newest member of the State University System of IM体育官网 and is the only state university dedicated to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Collaborating with industry leaders like Microsoft to give students an academically rigorous education with real-world relevance is at the foundation of IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 mission.
鈥淲orking closely with Microsoft officials to develop and enhance our curriculum, as well as using their software in our classrooms, will put Poly students at an advantage,鈥� Parker added. 鈥淣ot only will they be able to compete for available jobs at Microsoft, they will also be contenders for positions within the thousands of companies that use and service Microsoft software worldwide.鈥�
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq 鈥淢SFT鈥�) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft is headquartered in Redmond, Wash. and employs more than 100,500 people around the world.
鈥淢icrosoft is proud to support schools like IM体育官网 Poly that are focused on ensuring technology is integrated into the classroom in a meaningful way to help students develop skills and competencies that will make them competitive in the workforce,鈥� said Margo Day, Vice President of U.S. Education at Microsoft.
As an industry partner, Microsoft will support the university in a number of endeavors that may include curriculum development, service on advisory boards, offering industry insight and analysis, providing internships for students, supporting the efforts of the University鈥檚 Foundation, conducting joint research, engaging in opportunities to collaborate in product development, teaching in the classroom and hiring IM体育官网 Poly graduates.
IM体育官网 Poly students will also have the chance to use Microsoft software applications in the classroom.
鈥淲e highly value the Microsoft partnership as a strategic enterprise software provider for our innovative Poly Cloud, which is an open access, feature-rich environment for our students, faculty and staff,鈥� said IM体育官网 Poly Chief Information Officer Tom Hull. 鈥淥ur Microsoft campus agreement and modern approach to higher education is a flexible, mobile experience for our students, including access to over 90 educational and administrative software applications. This is essential for preparing our students for success in the STEM curriculum and technology marketplace.鈥�
IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 campus, located in Lakeland, Fla. along the I-4 High Tech Corridor, is now under construction. The university will welcome its inaugural class of freshmen, transfer and graduate students in August 2014.