Northwestern Polytechnic University President Peter Hsieh discusses the unique needs of a Silicon Valley workforce and how his school is helping to fill those gaps in an evolving education landscape.
“We serve students who are looking to take their career or transfer into four-year universities, and we focus on business, engineering, and computer science,” said Hsieh. “A lot of students come from different backgrounds, so we focus on science, technology, engineering, and math courses to enhance their transferability to universities.”
Northwestern Polytechnic University is a STEM-focused university in Fremont, California, with an enrollment of more than 1,700. The school offers bachelor’s degree programs in computer science and software engineering and associate-level degrees in engineering, business, and information technology.
“What is different about us is that we have a Silicon Valley focus,” said Hsieh. “The university works with companies in the area, so students are learning the skills they need to excel at these companies.”
Hsieh says Northwestern Polytechnic University has developed close ties with Silicon Valley tech giants such as Facebook, Nvidia, and many of the engineering departments of more than half of Fortune 100 companies.
As a result, Northwestern Polytechnic University can help students prepare for careers in some of today’s most dynamic industries. Those industries include big data, cloud computing, healthcare IT, and cyber security.
“We are constantly expanding our curriculum to build bridges with Silicon Valley companies,” said Hsieh. “This way, we can help students prepare for jobs in the industry.”
He went on to say that Northwestern Polytechnic University always has a steady supply of jobs on-campus and graduates who are ready to work in an evolving job market.
“All you need is to be open-minded and willing to learn,” said Hsieh. “Our unique focus prepares students for these types of opportunities, and we feel that the demand will continue to increase in the years to come.”
“In addition, we have a robust alumni network across the entire country, so if students want to take their career to another state or even another country, they will have an extra support system in place.”
He added that Northwestern Polytechnic University had expanded its reach into international markets by working with other educational institutions and universities.
“We also have students study abroad in countries such as Italy, China, and France,” said Hsieh. “This offers students a global perspective that we feel is necessary to be competitive in today’s workforce.”
Hsieh concluded by saying that Northwestern Polytechnic University has made strides to keep pace with the demands of hiring companies in the area by revamping its course curricula and partnering with industry leaders.
“We’ve always had a strong focus on technology,” said Hsieh. “Some of our new courses include digital animation, cyber security, and mobile application development.”
He went on to say that Northwestern Polytechnic University is especially excited about its growing co-op program with companies in the Bay Area.
“The whole basis of our school is to provide students with an education that is relevant to future career opportunities,” said Hsieh. “We offer small class sizes and instructors who are professionals working in the industry.”
