ICT Employment

 

National Science Foundation Advanced Technical Education (ATE) Centers - Convergence Technology Center (CTC)

 

The Convergence Technology Center (CTC)

 

The Convergence Technology Center (CTC) has been operating in Frisco, Texas, in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, since 2004 under P.I. Dr. Ann Beheler and a strong leadership team working closely with a Business Advisory Council.

 

Historically, many ICT related fields - computer, software, networking, telecommunications, Internet, programming and information systems technologies - have developed separately:  in different organizations and at different times.  With rapid improvements in computer processing power, networking technology advances, programming interface improvements, widespread adoption of Internet Protocols, integration into organizational strategic operations, and improved workforce and user competencies, however, these fields are rapidly converging.  Equipment is converging into ever fewer devices.  Previously separate networks are converging. Previously separate organizational departments are converging into single operations.

In the U.S., these trends are often referred to as "convergence."  The CTC uses that convergence term in its title, but it is focused on ICT.  It was established to meet the growing need for skilled specialists in the area of Convergence Technology and Home Technology Integration.  The CTC pulls together the strengths of regional and national educational institutions and business and industry partners to create of pool of qualified convergence technicians who can design, build, test, secure and troubleshoot communication infrastructure and devices in the convergence technology arena, both for enterprise and home markets.

 

The CTC has four primary goals:

  1. Program Improvement: Developing convergence technology and interoperability curriculum to meet workforce needs;

  2. Professional Development for Educators: Equip faculty to teach convergence technology;

  3. Recruit and Attract underserved populations into the field;

  4. Capacity Building: Function as a Regional Distribution Center.

A recent NSF grant renewal expands the CTC’s efforts to include integration of Green IT concepts, principles and practices into ICT related programs and classes.  Green IT strategies include ICT to replace travel, virtualization, intelligent power management, cloud computing, and smart operating practices, system design, cooling systems and storage strategies.

Much like MPICT’s summer Faculty Development Week, the CTC offers a summer Working Connections event, which devotes a week to quality, intensive IT faculty development.  Check out this year’s schedule and attend to learn new material and teaching techniques!

The CTC offers mentoring services to community college ICT related programs interested in developing industry and business informed convergence related programs and curriculum.  Six California community colleges (Ohlone College, Diablo Valley College and City College of San Francisco in the MPICT region) have benefitted from CTC mentoring services.

The CTC is profiled in a recent article in Converge magazine.

 

For more information, please call (972) 377-1648 or email

 

Material on this site is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number DUE 0802284. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Science Foundation. Website by OM