Accelerate to Industry

The Accelerate to Industry program was originally developed at North Carolina State University. Through an NSF grant, the program was extended, to involve other universities in the program. Ohio State University was the first of the big ten alliance to be part of this innovative way to help graduate students become industry workforce ready.

The A2i program is designed to meet graduate students’ developmental needs by offering: (a) an Industry Company Site Visit, (b) an Industry Team Practicum, (c) an Industry Internship, (d) Industry Job Search Strategies and (e) an Industry Immersion Week. The goal of graduate students’ participation in the A2i program, is to be:

• more aware of industry career opportunities
• more understanding of how their skill set applies to industry
• able to identify career goals and strategies that they will use to seek industry employment and career advancement

There will be a new summer initiative in 2021, in which the partnership universities will engage in a joint program, bringing industry partners from different parts of the country to meet doctoral students from the partnership universities. This new initiative will give Ohio State University graduate students an opportunity to network with industry on the national and international levels for future job placement.