Miami, March 11, 2019 – Miami Dade College (MDC) is among the more than 20 leading colleges and universities that have partnered to launch the Public Interest Technology (PIT) University Network, which is committed to building the nascent field of public interest technology and growing a new generation of civic-minded technologists.
The PIT University Network aims to include the next generation of computer scientists, information architects, engineers, data scientists, and designers in policymaking and public service delivery to ensure the public is better served by the design and implementation of policies and services which anticipates the implications of technology.
“MDC recognizes the importance of not only preparing its students for the workforce of tomorrow but also of its role in educating them to be engaged and contributing citizens in their communities,” said Antonio Delgado, MDC’s Dean of Engineering, Technology and Design.
The PIT University Network brings together colleges and universities committed to building the field of public interest technology within academia, creating a robust pipeline of students seeking to pursue careers in public interest technology, and fostering collaboration across the network. It includes several other prominent educational institutions including: Harvard University, Princeton University, Georgetown University, Stanford University, the University of Chicago, and the University of California at Berkeley, to name a few.
As part of the PIT University Network, MDC’s technology faculty will research and integrate ethics and public values content into core technology courses and develop social-impact projects in partnership with industry, nonprofits, and government, with the objective of increasing students’ awareness of ethics and social impact. Additionally, the College will focus on facilitating training, workshops and networking events that will bring industry professionals, students, and faculty together to expand and enhance the integration of PIT discussions within and without the classroom. MDC will also prepare students for internship programs with a focus on social impact in partnership with local companies and the PIT Network members.
“As an Ashoka U designated Changemaker Campus, MDC lives out this commitment to students by engaging all dimensions of the College to ensure that our students’ educational journey is rooted in changemaking principles and practices,” added Sandra LaFleur, Director of Social Change Initiatives at MDC.
Convened by the Ford Foundation, Hewlett Foundation and New America, the PIT University Network represents a powerful alignment across sectors – including higher education, philanthropy, and public policy – as part of a new push to define and build the public interest technology sector.
About Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College is the largest degree-granting institution in the nation. The college’s eight campuses offer more than 300 distinct degree pathways including several baccalaureate degrees in biological sciences, engineering, data analytics, information systems technology, education, public safety, supervision and management, nursing, physician assistant studies, film and others. MDC is the recipient of top national awards. As Democracy’s College, MDC changes lives through accessible, high quality-teaching and learning experiences. It houses the Miami Culinary Institute, the Miami Animation & Gaming International Complex, the Miami Fashion Institute, the Eig-Watson School of Aviation, the Idea Center, the School for Advanced Studies, the New World School of the Arts, to name a few. MDC has been named among the nation’s “Great Colleges to Work For” by The Chronicle of Higher Education. The College embraces its responsibility to serve as an economic, cultural, and civic leader for the advancement of our diverse global community. Its alumni and employees contribute more than $6 billion annually to the local economy, and MDC graduates occupy top leadership positions in every major industry. MDC is renowned for its rich cultural programming. It is home of the Miami Book Fair, Miami Film Festival, the MDC Live! Performing Arts Series, the National Historic Landmark Miami Freedom Tower, the Tower Theater, Dyer Building, Koubek Center Mansion and Gardens, the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives, a sculpture park and a large art gallery system. MDC has admitted more than 2,000,000 students and counting, since it opened its doors in 1960. For more information, visit www.mdc.edu.
For more information, please contact Antonio Delgado, MDC’s Dean of Engineering, Technology and Design at (305) 237-7006 or adelgad9@mdc.edu