Silicon Valley is the world’s technology and innovation leader. The area is home to more than 1,000 high-tech companies and employs more than 249,000 people. With that comes a demand for a vast number of new workers. Northwestern Polytechnic University (NPU) is training future leaders who will contribute to building the world’s next generation of technology and innovation companies.
The demand for talent has increased exponentially in recent years. According to a report from Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network, the area produced 2,500 engineering and computer science graduates each year between 1990 and 2001. However, employers in Silicon Valley were demanding more than 22,000 graduates with bachelor’s degrees annually by 2011.
“From 2000 to 2005, NPU graduated 97 percent of its students on time,” said Peter Hsieh, University President. “More than 90 percent of the graduates — 1,835 — went straight into the workforce and quickly found jobs that paid well.”
Part of NPU’s success can be attributed to its close ties with the industry. According to Hsieh, the school has formed more than 300 collaborations with companies in Silicon Valley. “NPU takes pride in training students for careers in business management, information technology, energy-related engineering, and bioengineering,” he said. “They can find jobs in high-growth fields.”
Future leaders are essential to other growing industries as well. “NPU is also working with the wine industry in Napa Valley,” Hsieh added. The school has formed a partnership with Mantria Winery to help train future managers.
Hsieh said that NPU’s career office has been trying to get the word out about its graduates’ success. “In 2002, we started a campaign called ‘Understand Success,'” he said. “Our graduate placement rate is very high, and we wanted people to know it.”
About Northwestern Polytechnic University
Northwestern Polytechnic University is a Silicon Valley-based higher education institution known for its applied approach to undergraduate and graduate education, leading to career-ready degrees and professional certifications emphasizing engineering, information technology, energy management, and entrepreneurship.
Its mission is to offer education, training, and research programs that respond to the needs of industry in Northern California, throughout the United States, and globally. NPU works with businesses and public agencies to establish objectives for attaining workforce productivity, competitiveness, and quality; generates educational approaches to meet these challenges; conducts studies related to technology transfer; prepares its students through innovative teaching methodologies and distance learning, and collaborates with industry.
About NPU’s Student Body
NPU’s student body represents more than 40 different countries and all 50 states. “Our students come from a variety of backgrounds,” Hsieh said. “About half are American, and the other half represent over 50 countries.”
Northwestern Polytechnic University’s graduates are trained to be the future thought-leaders and innovators of today. Its students are highly motivated, with a drive to succeed in their chosen professions. Northwestern Polytechnic University builds leaders who can serve as catalysts for positive change and break new ground through innovative ideas and actions.
“We want our students to be qualified, productive graduates,” Hsieh concluded. “NPU has an excellent track record when it comes to finding jobs for its graduates. We’re very proud of that.”
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