Nexenta and San Jose State University Partner

Nexenta Systems, Inc. and the Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering at SJSU a US News and World Reports 2015 top-ranked public engineering program, announced they have jointly developed an advanced computing class, to address the needs of organizations seeking expertise in big data, cloud computing and software-defined data centers (SDDCs).

The course for exceptional undergrad and grad students, entitled CmpE 297 Special Topic in Software-Defined Storage, will be offered for the first time in Fall Semester 2016. Putting theory into practice to prepare students for the world outside of the classroom, the class will combine practical hands-on labs with guest instruction from technical experts currently employed at Silicon Valley-based companies SanDisk Corporation, Milpitas, CA and Super Micro Computer, Inc., San Jose, CA. Registration for Fall Semester classes opens May 31.

Engineering-related programs comprise the most popular field of study at SJSU, and the College of Engineering, with its 7,300-plus undergraduate and graduate students, is the largest of the university’s eight colleges. As of fall 2015, SJSU’s 14 engineering disciplines accounted for roughly 17% of all undergraduate majors and over 48% of all graduate students.

“As the largest contributor to Silicon Valley’s high-tech workforce, we’re constantly seeking to collaborate with local tech companies like Nexenta, to ensure our students gain the practical experience they need to be successful after they leave San Jose State,” said Andrew Hsu, Ph.D., Don Beall Dean, College of Engineering, SJSU. “It’s undeniable that cloud computing, software-defined everything and big data have ushered in a totally new era in the ways we collect, store and use data, creating a demand for technologists with this kind of specialized knowledge. By inviting subject matter experts to teach our students, we’re equipping them with the skill set prized by employers, and also doing our part to stem a critical shortage in America’s job market.“

SJSU joins Nexenta’s Higher Education Program, which is dedicated to partnerships with universities to develop technical curricula to prepare STEM students for the workforce. By building on the foundational software engineering and computer science curricula, and adding advanced courses with both academic value and substantial ‘real world’ applicability, Nexenta and partner universities are delivering coveted knowledge to graduates.

“We’re committing resources to prepare tomorrow’s workforce with the highly valued skills that might otherwise be years in the making,” said Eric Ray, director of platform development, Nexenta, who is spearheading the Higher Ed program. “The best way we know to solve the chronic tech worker shortage is to encourage more collaborative efforts between industry and the universities developing the engineers and computer scientists of the future.“