Wright State unveils professional-development program for the public

Jennie Gallimore is executive director of professional development at Wright State’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, which is now offering courses tailored for engineers, computer scientists and managers.

A professional-development program tailored for engineers, computer scientists and managers and featuring courses ranging from project management to creating computer apps has been announced by Wright State University.

The program is open to anyone, with some courses requiring a certain minimum level of knowledge about the topic. Cost varies, depending on the content of the courses and their duration.

“It’s a great opportunity,” said Jennie Gallimore, Ph.D., executive director of professional development at Wright State’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. “The university is providing this whole continuation of education. We’re not stopping with your degree.”

Gallimore said workers with their bachelor’s or master’s degrees often don’t have time to return to college for another degree. Yet they need to learn and update their skills to advance in their professions.

“Engineering and computer science is one of those fields where things change very rapidly,” she said. “We have some of the faculty and the expertise to provide more advanced knowledge.”

Some classes, which will also be offered at night and on weekends, may be taught by Wright State instructors.

Some of the courses will be taught by ESI International, a company that provides training in project management, program management, business analytics, federal acquisition and related areas.

“If you want to win government contracts, you need to maintain state-of-the-art knowledge,” Gallimore said.

There are also courses on Six Sigma.

“This teaches people in manufacturing, health care and other areas how to reduce waste and improve processes,” Gallimore said.

In addition, there will be classes on how to create virtual environments and develop iOS apps, software that enables computers, smartphones and websites to perform useful tasks.

“People may have a computer science degree or programming experience, but they may have never learned how to create an app,” Gallimore said.

There are also classes tailored for businesses that may want to send their employees, including a class on the practical applications of robotics in manufacturing.

“The danger of not staying current is that you are going to be creating products based on old technology that no one is going to want to buy or use,” Gallimore said. “Employers have to understand those trends and changes and those new technologies in order for them to continue to prosper.”

For individual workers, the courses may enable them to develop the knowledge and tools to move into supervisory positions and to better understand the work of those they supervise.

“Maybe you’re a business manager and you don’t have an engineering background, but you are overseeing and managing people who are engineers,” Gallimore said. “If you take an introductory course in engineering concepts, you will start to have the language and the basic understanding. Management techniques don’t change that much, but the engineering and technology change very rapidly.”

Businesses must provide professional development to their employees or risk losing them to companies that do, Gallimore said.

“People may leave if they feel they have more opportunity for continued learning toward their career,” she said. “We want to work with the community to support the development of courses that businesses need for their employee workforce.”

Learn more about the professional-development program in the College of Engineering and Computer Science >>