David Johnston Research + Technology Park’s Post

Why do top companies choose Waterloo? Because there is no better place to be than on campus at UWaterloo, Canada’s most innovative university. From accelerating R&D to working with global top talent, the world's top companies continue to choose Waterloo. Find out why.

Learn more about Ashmita Randhawa, DPhil, and how she came to be the Director of Research and Development at Sunderland Software City and lead for Digital Catapult North East Tees Valley. 👇

Thank you to UK Research and Innovation for the opportunity to speak about the various career transitions I have taken to get to the role that I currently hold in helping to grow the NE tech ecosystem; a role that has me pulling on knowledge and experiences from the diverse switches I have had the opportunity to make! Talking about your life and career choices is uncomfortable at the best of times, and on film even more so, but seeing my little girl's face at seeing 'mama on TV' makes it all the worth it. Also it's really exciting to show people a small snapshot of what the amazing facilities and work we are doing to build the tech ecosystem in the North East! Come visit us at at our Advanced Media Production Studio at PROTO , operated by Digital Catapult and Target3D Ltd | The Mechanics Behind Creativity; a space where companies can experiment with new virtual production technologies and receive support from us to adopt those advanced technologies. A few things I've learned from my career so far that didn't make the cut: 💡 You never know where your next career move/ project/ idea will come from. Talk to people, listen to stories, be curious... Not only is it fun, but you never know what 'next big thing' might pop up next by connecting the various dots you build. 💡 People make changes in their career for all sorts of reasons, and it usually involves a combination of factors such as family, opportunity, hard work, and sometimes just being in the right place at the right time! 💡 Empathy is key. Spending time with a colleague or a team member to understand who they are, what drives them, and what is challenging for them and then finding ways to support them (formal or informal) is more valuable that anyone can realise. 💡 Always serve your argument with your front foot, and that it's incredibly important to be intellectually generous - collaboration is the only way we are going to solve those grand challenges! 

I have worked at Virginia Tech for almost 8 years, and have worked with President Sands for all those years. He has now been at Virginia Tech for 10 years! One of the challenging dynamics in higher education is the increasingly short-tenure of college presidents. Short tenures impact hiring and retaining senior leaders; they impact visioning and executing on a vision for an institution; they impact community and governing board relationships; and they impacts culture and climate of an institution. Virginia Tech is by no means perfect, but it does have many amazing and good and wonderful aspects: steady leadership; very cool people to work with; a beautiful campus; a motto of Ut Prosim (that I may serve), which is a lived motto that everyone who is a Hokie knows; a commitment to inclusion and diversity through InclusiveVT; and a community ethos where you have the opportunity to actualize your potential. I think it is important to remind ourselves why we stay in our jobs; what is important to us; and if we can be "decently content." https://lnkd.in/eb6s_69W

"So how do we bring in more career pathway programs, vocational opportunities, and early college? At the end of the day, the question is this: is Massachusetts willing to make the changes? I think we're Blockbuster video in 1992 — we're not seeing Netflix coming." - Massachusetts Commissioner of Education Jeffrey C. Riley underscoring the need for urgency and innovation, and the opportunity to drive "what's next." Thank you to Commissioner Riley for joining us for our latest Competitiveness Conversation event in partnership with Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education. Learn more about the event and read our recommendations to accelerate student learning: https://lnkd.in/epYb63mS

“Integrated planning is a sustainable approach to planning that builds relationships, aligns the organization, and emphasizes preparedness for change. As the higher education landscape becomes more challenging than ever, we strive to empower higher education professionals in shaping a future that is inclusive, innovative, and responsive. Choosing Campus Sonar as a partner in our work is one of the best decisions I could have made for myself and my organization.” ~ Donna-Jo Pepito We're supporting the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) in meeting four objectives to reach their goal of using a data-informed process to change the way higher education professional associations deliver value. #HigherEd #StrategicPlanning #HigherEdLeadership https://lnkd.in/guqrjtGv

A recent report by the New York City Economic Development Corp. found that employment in science, technology, engineering and math fields grew by about 130,000 jobs, totaling 323,000, over the past decade. According to the latest data from the New York State Department of Labor, about 363,000 jobs exist in the finance and insurance sectors. Wall Street jobs grew by about 13% over the past 10 years. New York City’s rate of STEM employment growth over this span, at 67%, surpassed its overall growth in private sector jobs, at 14%, and the growth rate in U.S. STEM employment, at 32%. This rapid growth in STEM employment helps fortify the city’s economic base, with the Big Apple not overly exposed to downturns in particular sectors, such as technology in certain West Coast cities such as San Francisco and Seattle. The report found that New York City’s world-class institutions, such as Cornell University, Columbia University and New York University, play a vital role in the talent pipeline that both learns and works in the city. From 2011-21, the annual number of STEM degrees awarded in New York City increased by 61%, outpacing the U.S. growth rate of 19%. These graduates then stay within the city limits, with 84% of all STEM job growth occurring in Manhattan alone.

“Integrated planning is a sustainable approach to planning that builds relationships, aligns the organization, and emphasizes preparedness for change. As the higher education landscape becomes more challenging than ever, we strive to empower higher education professionals in shaping a future that is inclusive, innovative, and responsive. Choosing Campus Sonar as a partner in our work is one of the best decisions I could have made for myself and my organization.” ~ Donna-Jo Pepito We're supporting the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) in meeting four objectives to reach their goal of using a data-informed process to change the way higher education professional associations deliver value. #HigherEd #StrategicPlanning #HigherEdLeadership https://lnkd.in/guqrjtGv

The benefits of completing a long-term project during college are well documented—especially as they relate to critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. At Simpson, such opportunities abound in rich variety, including an array of student-faculty research. And students are taking full advantage. Read more → bit.ly/47roc44

Academic partnerships are the bridges that connect knowledge, innovation, and collaboration, enabling institutions to transform challenges into opportunities and foster a culture of collective growth and discovery. Higher education leaders must listen and engage those industries leaning on us for their workforce needs!