2 min read February 2022 — USF College of Engineering is aligning industry demands with innovative curriculum delivery to provide students a top tier education and experience in a booming industry. “The market for engineers and computer scientists is very strong. There simply are not enough engineering and computer science graduates to fill the talent pipeline,” Robert Bishop, dean of the USF College of Engineering, told Invest:.
What are some of your key takeaways from the past year and how are you applying them in 2022?
We realized the College of Engineering is much more resilient and robust than we initially thought. When the pandemic hit, we wondered how we would pivot to all remote delivery of instruction. But we did it in a week. It wasn’t pretty and we struggled. But we got it done. In the ensuing semesters, we learned a lot that allowed us to rapidly improve our course delivery methods. This experience has opened our eyes to possibilities we might not have considered before the pandemic. We are now reimagining how curriculum is delivered in and out of the classroom. Lectures can be delivered with in-class instruction coupled with simultaneous virtual options available for students preferring to be remote. It is a modular curriculum delivery that is in class, simultaneous live streaming, recording and close captioning that is searchable for students.
The way we interact with industry is also shifting. We are working on ways to develop connections to industries that can be enhanced through technological platforms especially focused on career services, internships, and post-graduation jobs. We are also reflecting on the work life balance of our faculty, staff, and students. We have been rethinking advising so that advisors can be available at staggered hours to provide better service to students while giving staff flexibility with when and how they work. There have been many challenges, but it has helped bring us together in ways we did not in the past.
How has technology and innovation influenced the college’s growth?
A major influence is the creation of the Institute of Applied Engineering. We have been able to stand up a research enterprise within the college which is one of a kind. It is a nonprofit that is a Direct Support Organization at the University of South Florida which has contracts including an up to $85 million task order contract over five years with US Special Operations Command. As a relatively young college, we are not hindered by hundreds of years of tradition and restricted thinking. We are open to new ideas on how to run a business within the academic environment. Another benefit of the Institute is that it attracts high-tech business, especially the tech start-ups that are flowing into the Tampa Bay region. And about 25 universities partner with us as part of the Institute’s Academic Consortium to bring the best ideas and brightest minds from all over the country to bear on wicked hard applied engineering problems. We have supported more than 500 interns who then go to industry and government with very relevant work experience. The pursuit of innovation in the College of Engineering is strong and we are succeeding in attracting more students as a result.
What does the job market look like for new graduates, especially those in STEM fields?
The market for engineers and computer scientists is very strong. There are not enough engineering and computer science graduates to fill the talent pipeline. I often remind our partners in industry that the T in STEM is technology and the E is engineering. I always stress that the USF College of Engineering is a major player in filling the STEM pipeline. While the job prospects are outstanding, what is very intriguing is that students are starting their own companies or going to smaller tech startups. This is distinct from previous generations that preferred or only had the option to go to big companies or to the government. It is evident that our students gravitate toward new innovation and we are excited to guide that opportunity for them.
What is your outlook for the college and the higher education sector over the next three to five years?
My prediction is the USF College of Engineering will be a predominant college in the State of Florida and across the nation within 5 years. We’re an urban, research-intensive university and that is where the future lies … in the interface between urban settings and high impact research. Our foundation built upon student success serves us and our students well. We are committed to diversity and inclusion and serving our community. We have a great location and a positive attitude about innovation and taking risks. Higher education nationally is experiencing many stresses including the University of South Florida. Regardless, we have every intention of guiding the USF College of Engineering into the top echelon nationally. I am confident that the College of Engineering has a bright future.
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