Rebooting IT: The Tech-Forward Advantage

By Katie Ray

As a result of expanding use of technology in the workplace, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts faster-than-average growth in the information technology (IT) sector. In Fall 2021, the University of Pikeville developed the information technology management (ITM) major after a thorough survey of student interest, analysis of state and national labor market forecasting data, and review of survey responses from industry and higher education leaders.

Students majoring in ITM develop the skills necessary to compete in the rapidly-changing field. UPIKE graduates will be equipped to support essential technology functions and provide business management leadership. The ITM program offers a career-ready credential that students can tailor to their professional goals, occupational opportunities and career shifts over time. Assistant Professor of ITM Praveen Guraja, M.S., Ph.D., worked rigorously to design and implement the program with several industry-relevant courses that prepare students for career success.

“Students in this program gain experience in many facets of the IT spectrum, including cybersecurity, machine learning, programming, network and information security, database management and IT project management,” said Dr. Guraja. “They graduate prepared to enter the workforce as programmers, system administrators, hardware support, network administrators, analysts or consultants. Along with the knowledge they gain through the curriculum, students also develop soft skills such as communication and critical thinking.”

The ITM program is growing with its largest class this semester of 49 students, and for sophomores Dalton Cure and Jaxen Smith, choosing this path at UPIKE has opened many doors.

“My favorite part of learning IT is the diversity of topics and careers it covers. IT is a field that can branch off into countless different career paths, and I enjoy the influx of options and learning opportunities,” said Cure. “With the ITM program, I am gaining knowledge in several of these fields and getting a great overview of IT as a whole. I get to decide what parts of IT I enjoy and what parts I don’t.” Smith echoed those sentiments.

“The decision to come to UPIKE and be part of the ITM program is probably one of the biggest and best I have made so far. I love our program here and believe it has a bright future,” said Smith. “Dr. Guraja cares deeply for his students and is always looking for opportunities to lift us up and get us job-ready before we graduate.”

Guraja believes internships are a crucial aspect of the ITM curriculum and wants students to take advantage of experiential learning opportunities that adequately prepare them for their professional future.

“My more than 12 years of work experience in the IT industry and the research supporting the positive role that experiential learning plays in the career outcomes of college graduates has prompted me to include internships as an essential curricular option in the ITM program,” said Guraja. “Internships are not just résumé boosters for students approaching graduation. Their benefits aren’t limited to recent graduates either, they can be felt throughout the career.”

Cure and Smith took advantage of an internship with Prosper Appalachia this summer. Prosper Appalachia works with a hands-on approach to prepare the next generation’s workforce while connecting young adults with opportunities to find their passion. Interning as Appalachia Coding Camp Assistant Instructors for five weeks, Smith and Cure were trained by Awesome, Inc., to work through their curriculum.

“I learned a lot of valuable information throughout the internship. I gained knowledge in several programming languages and tools that I didn’t have before,” said Cure. “Some knowledge that I gained unexpectedly was what it took to be an educator. The depth of knowledge and patience it takes for educators to give children, teenagers and young adults an adequate education is something to be commended.”

Smith is passionate about these opportunities and is thankful the experience increased his confidence.

“I learned so much from my time with Prosper Appalachia. It was my first time acting independently, and I deeply valued that. I also met many great people who taught me important lessons,” said Smith. “The comfort zone is constantly fluctuating. It is never stagnant. It will expand if you do activities to force yourself further out. If you retreat into that comfort, it will shrink. This summer was something that emphasized this for me. I’m sure under the guidance of Dr. Guraja, this won’t be the last time I will try something new and learn a ton from it. I will continue to keep pushing.”

The Appalachian College Association (ACA) awards yearly scholarships to support ongoing educational objectives. Ledford Scholars present their research from various fields of study, and UPIKE was delighted to announce Cure and Smith both received the 2022 ACA’s Ledford Research Scholarship.

Cures’ research focused around utilizing open-source software to make campus improvements.

“The goal of my project was to create a python program that would cut down on sending repetitive emails. The program sends emails on a time-based system, allowing members to allocate the time they would normally spend on these emails to something more efficient,” said Cure. “I’m very proud to have received this honor of being a Ledford Scholar. It wouldn’t have been possible without the mentorship by Dr. Guraja.”

In an attempt to better the campus and community, Smith aimed to design a program that could make parking more efficient for his research.

“I designed a program to detect if a parking space was occupied after the user marked the space. If the space is vacant, it turns green. If it is occupied, it turns red. I would like to accurately fulfill my initial vision for this project by developing database connectivity and connecting it to an app or SMS,” said Smith. “It was my honor and privilege to have my project selected and be designated a Ledford Scholar. I learned so much from this experience, and I recommend anyone with a passion for any project try it.”

Unsure of what branch of IT he wants to pursue a career in, Cure has decided to take it one class at a time and engage in future internship opportunities in his different fields of interest.

“I’m only one year into the program and have already had two amazing internships. I became an ACA Ledford Scholar and have gained knowledge in several fields of IT such as systems administration, database management, programming and even network security,” said Cure. “I look forward to the classes and opportunities that lie ahead of me in the ITM Program.”

Smith’s favorite part about learning IT is the feeling that there is always something to improve upon, and he is planning on a career related to cybersecurity. The ITM program is preparing him to take on those aspirations.

“There is a big market for security right now, and it’s expected to grow larger. As data becomes more and more prevalent, so too must security. Having a data leak as a big company usually means a large loss of money and loss of trust from your consumers,” said Smith. “Having the work experience from the internship in a field that values experience very highly is an incredible advantage. Dr. Guraja also ensures that we get as many relevant certificates as possible. These two factors should be a great help for my job hunt in the future.”

ITM is a growing sector affecting daily life in unseen ways. The world runs on information technology. From social media to point-of-sale transactions, marketing infrastructure and data storage are all vital components in harnessing the full potential of IT. Graduates with an ITM degree will be involved with mastering new technologies and solving complex problems.