ONLINE EDUCATION
Gurobi Optimization | July 27, 2022
Gurobi Optimization, LLC, creator of the world’s fastest mathematical optimization solver, announced the launch of Gurobi Compass, its new expert-led training program designed to make the power of optimization more accessible to all.Because Gurobi’s user base now extends far beyond Operations Research professionals, Gurobi Compass aims to help every role have a successful and seamless user experience—across product owners, project managers, software developers, and IT professionals. The program utilizes hands-on workshops, live instruction, and on-demand videos to teach students in the format that best suits their needs.
Dr. Kostja Siefen, head of Gurobi’s Technical Account Management team, explains, Every product and every project team is unique. That's why training can never be a one-size-fits-all program.
And indeed, Gurobi Compass offers highly customized training packages, which are compiled after a complimentary listen-and-learn session where clients can express their specific needs and challenges.
The following are just a few examples of topics Gurobi Compass covers to help all members of a team successfully navigate Gurobi’s products:
Integration and deployment: The program’s trainers can teach users about the wide variety of options available for integrating Gurobi software components into their optimization solutions. Users will explore APIs, client/server separation, and flexible cloud and container deployments.
Modeling techniques: Gurobi Compass can help users translate business problems and dilemmas into proper mathematical representations, which Gurobi can then quickly and easily solve. This training draws on a range of techniques to help modelers develop high-performance model generators that are less error-prone and use fewer lines of code.
Performance tuning: For those who already have a working knowledge of mathematical modeling, Gurobi Compass’s performance tuning module can help users discover new approaches to improving model performance, so they can get the most out of Gurobi’s technology in the least amount of time.
Each of these training modules is customizable, but Gurobi can also go a step further by creating bespoke models on the specific topics that matter most to a team.
“Our Gurobi Compass course was the perfect mix of optimization theory and hands-on exercises. Attendees are now more able to think about our day-to-day work through the lens of optimization. The Gurobi trainers were knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. We had a lot of fun!”
-Members of Gambit Research tested out the program and said of the experience
Each Gurobi Compass training module is designed for up to 150 participants, takes two to three hours to complete, and includes take-home exercises that allow users to immediately practice and apply what they’ve learned.
Gurobi can even combine self-paced training on their learning platform with on-site, hands-on lessons for the most complete learning experience possible.
To learn more about how Gurobi Compass can help your team get acquainted with the world’s most powerful solver, visit www.gurobi.com/products/gurobi-compass/.
About Gurobi Optimization
With Gurobi’s decision intelligence technology, you can make optimal business decisions in seconds. From workforce scheduling, portfolio management, and marketing optimization, to supply chain design, and everything in between, Gurobi identifies your optimal solution, out of trillions of possibilities. As the leader in decision intelligence, Gurobi delivers easy-to-integrate, full-featured software and best-in-class support, with an industry-leading 97% customer satisfaction rating. Founded in 2008, Gurobi has operations across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Over 2,500 global customers across 40+ industries run on Gurobi, including SAP, Air France, and the National Football League, as well as half of the Fortune 10 and 70% of top global tech companies
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EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
Connected Nation | September 27, 2022
Connected Nation (CN) today announced the launch of a Digital Literacy and Learning program in collaboration with AT&T. The program, which is part of AT&T's national digital literacy initiative to help narrow the Digital Divide, will offer in-person and virtual digital literacy training workshops in underserved areas across the country where training is needed most for the digital empowerment of residents. CN will partner with local community organizations in each area to host training workshops from September 2022 through March 2023. In addition, CN will lead virtual and in-person workshops for military families at its Digital Works office in Fort Campbell, Kentucky"Digital literacy has long been part of Connected Nation's mission ensuring that every person is able to use technology meaningfully is absolutely essential in today's digital economy, said Heather Gate, Executive Vice President of Digital Inclusion. This program provides us the opportunity to meet people where they are in their digital skills level, confidence with embracing technology, and interest in enhancing their skills as new technology adopters. There is no better way to do this than by collaborating with trusted partners to bring much-needed training to local communities across the country. We are excited to get started. To launch this program, CN staff is reaching out to communities that previously participated in the nonprofit's technology planning process and identified digital literacy as a need. "Offering a tangible skill like digital literacy training to communities that Connected Nation works with allows us to model closing the Digital Divide in a real way," said Pamela Waggoner, Broadband Solutions Manager.
The amount of federal and state funding earmarked for broadband initiatives continues to grow. More communities than ever have access to these funds, and can use them to bring programs like this one to their residents.
"In recent months, there has been a considerable emphasis and focus on the large investments being made by federal and state governments to support the buildout of very high-speed networks across our communities.We also need to prepare these communities with the tools and training necessary to take advantage of these capabilities to help improve their lives. This initiative will be a significant factor in addressing that need."
Dan Manning, CN Broadband Solutions Manager
About Connected Nation
Connected Nation celebrated 20 years of service in 2021. The national nonprofit's mission is to improve lives by providing innovative solutions that expand access to and increase the adoption and use of broadband (high-speed internet) and its related technologies for all people. Everyone belongs in a Connected Nation.
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CORPORATE EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Amazon | August 03, 2022
Amazon is partnering with education organizations Beyond 12 and Kaplan to bring even more features to the Career Choice program - one of Amazon’s nine skills training programs. Career Choice already offers pre-paid college tuition to its more than 750,000 hourly employees. With these new partnerships, employees will have access to career coaching, college advising, and specialized career services free of cost. Through the expanded benefits program, employees will receive virtual one-on-one coaching to help them identify the academic programs that best fit their skills and long-term goals, as well as continuous support throughout their higher education experience.
Studies consistently show that expanding access to higher education is a proven way to create social and economic mobility for Americans. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, individuals with some college but no degree earn 18% more than their peers with just a high school diploma, while those with a bachelor’s degree earn 62% more.
However, numerous studies show that access to higher education is only the start, and that all too often students with the best intentions don’t finish their programs. Harvard University studies found that fewer than 40% of community college students earn a certificate or degree within six years of enrollment, and completion rates are even lower for minorities, older students, and part-time students. In fact, the Pell Institute found that only 9% of students with lower incomes earn a bachelor’s degree by their mid 20s, compared with 77% of their higher-earning peers.
That’s why Amazon is investing in programs to help employees get the guidance and coaching they need to be successful students free of cost. While financial constraints are undoubtedly a barrier for students, high-quality academic advising and career coaching improves academic outcomes—especially for lower-income or first-generation postsecondary students.
“While Career Choice has always been complemented by advisement services, feedback from participants has shown that more comprehensive and ongoing coaching would help employees choose programs better aligned to their career goals. We want Amazon team members to successfully navigate the challenges of going to school while working and ultimately use their new skills to find incredible opportunities, These partnerships with Beyond 12 and Kaplan are a game-changing enhancement to our program and the careers of Amazon’s employees.”
-Tammy Thieman, Global Director for Career Choice at Amazon
With these new partnerships, Amazon is envisioning an expansion of the Career Choice program - which has more than 80,000 total participants—that will encourage other employees to take the next step in skills training. Career Choice is designed to put employees on a path toward well-paying, in-demand professions with a coaching framework that empowers them along the way.
Participating in Amazon’s Career Choice Coaching program has been a valuable experience, To know I have a personal coach I can rely on, build a rapport with, and who is committed to helping me advance my career goals has been reassuring, saidCicero Vieira, an Amazon fulfillment center employee in Baltimore.
Beyond 12 is a national technology-based nonprofit whose mission is to improve the outcomes of students from under-resourced communities. The organization supplements live virtual coaching with a mobile app that guides students through activities, deadlines, and behaviors that lead to success throughout their education.
Eliminating the barrier of tuition is a tremendous benefit for Amazon employees, but postsecondary education completion gaps can’t be ignored, Our coaching program helps identify and address the systemic and structural barriers students face before those challenges lead them to drop out. We’re pleased to partner with Amazon to go beyond getting students ‘into’ college and focus on getting students ‘through’ college, saidAlexandra Bernadotte, founder and CEO of Beyond 12.
Kaplan helps prepare students for higher education by offering test prep, including for license and certification exams, while also offering degree programs, English learning, and pathway programs. Kaplan’s program with Amazon will connect employees to career services, such as networking, resume development, job interview preparation, and online brand building services, to enhance job placement.
Kaplan is committed to helping people succeed, and this exciting new partnership with Amazon builds on our proud legacy of changing lives and building stronger futures. We’re thrilled to be empowering so many thousands of hardworking employees at Amazon and look forward to being at their side until they’ve reached their educational and professional objectives, said Greg Marino, CEO of Kaplan’s North America division.
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