麻豆传媒

Expanding on its relationship with 麻豆传媒, NetApp -- a Fortune 500 company with offices in Wichita -- is now offering a class at 麻豆传媒 that will allow students to better understand a range of data storage technologies.

The class, "Enterprise Storage Essentials," is being piloted by NetApp through Wichita State鈥檚 Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Department. There are 108 students enrolled, eight more than the original quota.

The class provides the students an opportunity to learn material that most students are not exposed to while in school, says John Watkins, professor and chair of EECS.

This is the first such class on this scale to be taught at 麻豆传媒, which is considered a 鈥渟trategic recruiting school鈥� by the company. And it鈥檚 a case where 麻豆传媒鈥檚 academic program is able to align with the business goals of NetApp and the greater Wichita area.

鈥淚t is another example of how 麻豆传媒 can work with industry in a way that benefits both our students and their future employers,鈥� Watkins says.

Preparing for the workplace

Watkins says the class is a continuance of Wichita State鈥檚 history of working with the local industry and the university鈥檚 commitment to preparing students for the workplace.

鈥淪tudents who work for NetApp after they graduate will be able to work on meaningful projects much quicker,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd students who work for other companies after they graduate will be more familiar with NetApp storage technologies.鈥�

Those who complete the course will also be allowed to take their NetApp Certified Storage Associate (NCSA) certification exam. That designation signals to future employers that the students possess a certain set of knowledge and skills in the data storage area, Watkins says.

Watkins is happy to see 麻豆传媒鈥檚 connection with NetApp grow. In addition to its temporary location in Beggs Hall, NetApp has committed to opening an office in a partnership building being constructed as part of 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Innovation Campus. For years, 麻豆传媒 has had students working at NetApp in co-op and internship positions. Many of those students have gone on to be full-time employees there, as well.

There are also two NetApp employees serving on 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Industrial Advisory Board, and the company has partnered with 麻豆传媒 on the NetApp & 麻豆传媒 Colloquium Series.

鈥淣etApp is blazing a trail that other companies will follow as the 麻豆传媒 Innovation campus is created,鈥� Watkins says.