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 Information
and communications technologies infrastructure is critical to
economic and personal success in the 21st century. A
knowledgeable ICT workforce is critical to implementing,
maintaining and managing ICT infrastructure and the ICT
systems and operations of all types of organizations.
Community colleges can play a very important role in
developing a quality ICT workforce. They already enroll tens
of thousands of students in ICT related programs. Community
colleges are the most cost effective way of pushing ICT
knowledge and skills out into our communities. Community
college ICT programs are also traditionally very nimble. They
can develop and deliver new educational services quickly.
Improving the quality of ICT education in the region
directly affects the quality of the ICT workforce we all
depend on. The Mid-Pacific ICT Center is an efficient way to
engage in improvements to ICT education.
While ICT
programs are doing a good job developing an ICT workforce to
meet stated demands today, ICT educational and workforce
populations do not proportionally reflect the diversity of the
communities they serve. This problem exists in many science,
technology, engineering and mathematics fields. We need to do
a better job attracting and serving female, latino/a, African
American and other underrepresented populations.
The
Mid-Pacific ICT Center will work on this issue to help ICT
programs throughout the region.
It is a clearly stated
goal of the Center to expand and diversify ICT education and
workforce populations.
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