APLU Designates NJIT as an Innovative & Economic Prosperity University
Newark, NJ (PRWEB) June 24, 2015 -- In recognition of a strong commitment to economic engagement, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) today designated New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) in the 2015 class of Innovation & Economic Prosperity Universities. The designation acknowledges NJIT as working with public and private sector partners in New Jersey and its surrounding region to support economic development through a variety of activities, including innovation and entrepreneurship, technology transfer, talent and workforce development, and community development.
NJIT received the designation after conducting a thorough self-review with outside stakeholder input and subsequently submitting an application that went through a rigorous independent review process. NJIT is one of the smallest public research, land-grant universities to receive this recognition.
NJIT President, Joel S. Bloom, adds, “We are delighted to be recognized by the APLU with this designation that accentuates our commitment to be a leader in economic development and job creation through hands-on education, talent development, applied research, innovation, entrepreneurship and business incubation. This recognition strengthens the already solid foundation upon which NJIT has a unique capacity to better support New Jersey's high tech businesses and to improve the quality of life of its citizens."
New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), from its inception in 1881 as the Newark Technical School with 88 students to currently over 10,600 undergraduate and graduate students, has a rich history of economic development with its roots in the industrial age. Today, NJIT’s technologically based education and research programs are aligned to support the design, computing, engineering, and life sciences clusters identified nationally, state-wide and regionally as critical for expanded translational research bringing technology and the sciences to bear on cutting-edge solutions through beneficial industry collaborations.
“Public universities serve as economic engines for their local communities and states by conducting cutting-edge research to reach new breakthroughs and developing the talent to help existing businesses grow stronger and enabling new ones to develop and thrive,” APLU President, Peter McPherson, said.
NJIT is one of 18 institutions that comprise the third annual class of Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities including: Auburn University; Binghamton University; Clemson University; East Carolina University; Mississippi State University; New Jersey Institute of Technology; New Mexico State University; Ohio University; Southern Illinois University; University of Arizona; University of Kansas; University of Louisville; University of Maryland; University of Nebraska-Lincoln; University of New Mexico; University of South Florida; Utah State University; and Western University.
“The 18 institutions in the 2015 class of Innovation & Economic Prosperity Universities serve as wonderful models of how public research universities extend beyond their campuses to engage their communities in economic development that create jobs and improve lives,” adds McPherson.
About NJIT
One of the nation’s leading public technological universities, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is a top-tier research university that prepares students to become leaders in the technology-dependent economy of the 21st century. NJIT’s multidisciplinary curriculum and computing-intensive approach to education provide technological proficiency, business acumen and leadership skills. With an enrollment of more than 10,000 graduate and undergraduate students, NJIT offers small-campus intimacy with the resources of a major public research university. NJIT is a global leader in such fields as solar research, nanotechnology, resilient design, tissue engineering and cyber-security, in addition to others. NJIT ranks fifth among U.S. polytechnic universities in research expenditures, topping $110 million, and is among the top 1 percent of public colleges and universities in return on educational investment, according to Payscale.com.
About APLU
Representing 238 public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems, and related organizations, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities is the nation's oldest higher education association with member institutions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, four U.S. territories, Canada, and Mexico. Annually, APLU member campuses enroll 4.8 million undergraduates and 1.3 million graduate students, award 1.2 million degrees, employ 1.4 million faculty and staff, and conduct $41.4 billion in university-based research.
Tanya Klein, New Jersey Institute of Technology, http://www.njit.edu, +1 973 596-3433, [email protected]
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