Innovation & Economic Prosperity Award Finalists: Clemson University and the University Maryland

As part of its ongoing effort to help member institutions magnify their economic impact, APLU recently announced finalists for its 2015 Innovation & Economic Prosperity University Awards. The awards honor institutions performing exemplary work to advance the economic wellbeing of their states, regions, and the nation through a variety of efforts. In this first installment in a three-part series, APLU spotlights Clemson University and the University of Maryland, finalists in the “Talent” IEP Awards category, for exemplary initiatives in education and workforce development.

The Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research has established itself as a world leader in automotive innovation and in 2007 launched the first graduate program in automotive engineering in the United States. At the International Center for Automotive Research, Clemson partners with global leaders like BMW and Michelin to cultivate the industry’s future innovators and drive automotive advances forward.

Through its University Professional Internship and Co-op Program, Clemson has also created and expanded practical education to supplement classroom learning. Last year alone, the program helped nearly 850 students gain internship experience, a key factor employers consider when hiring recent graduates.

The University of Maryland has also taken significant strides in talent development. Maryland has partnered with Northrop Grumman to create the Advanced Cybersecurity Experiences for Students. Through a residential learning community and a cybersecurity research cluster, Maryland has cemented its place at the vanguard of one of the fastest growing and most strategically important fields of the 21st century.

University of Maryland’s workforce and economic development extends well beyond cybersecurity. The university has also created the Hinman CEO Program to connect entrepreneurially minded students while exposing them to a suite of entrepreneurial coursework, activities, and programming to nurture students’ entrepreneurial spirit.