NIU Today

More than 15 years ago, the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology partnered with Omron to provide internships to NIU students. In working with NIU students and faculty, Omron became fond of CEET’s curriculum, seeing that it had laid a great theoretical platform for students entering the workforce. Later, Omron donated safety and automation equipment...

NIU’s College of Engineering and Engineering Technology is committed to strengthening the pipeline of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) students through middle school and high school programming. Building a pipeline of young students and funneling them into these disciplines ultimately ensures a more technically powered workforce for the future. One of the ways this...

For the second straight year, Northern Illinois University will host approximately 110 student teams from Illinois for the Illinois Destination ImagiNation Affiliate Tournament Finals on Saturday, April 13. The top two teams in each age division of each challenge will qualify for the Global Finals Tournament, scheduled from Wednesday, May 22, to Saturday, May 25,...

The Joint Institute of Engineering and Technology-Aerospace (JiET-A) has announced that it has received more than 100 applicants in growing the region’s aerospace talent pipeline. Driven by the Rockford Area Aerospace Network (RAAN), JiET-A formed in 2010 to gain more high-paying jobs and increase business opportunities for aerospace suppliers in the area. The program offers...

Regional partners reported results and progress achieved during the first year of the federal Jobs & Innovation Accelerator Challenge (JIAC) grant, which is focused on four major areas – branding, product innovation, work-force pipeline and business entrepreneurship. Examples of innovative and unique services introduced include a new engineering internship program, an integrated marketing strategy and...

NIU’s College of Engineering & Engineering Technology (CEET) and the University Honors Program teamed up to implement a new, customized honors program for engineering students. CEET faculty member Nick Pohlman set the idea in motion by securing a University Honors Summer Improvement Grant. “I originally applied for the grant because I was an honors student as...

More than 60 delegates from 32 Chinese universities visited the NIU campus Monday, June 4, to gather information regarding higher education for high-level Chinese dignitaries interested in learning more about NIU. In collaboration with ELS Language Centers, NIU hosted the delegation, coordinated by the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the China Education Association for International...

The Northern Illinois University College of Engineering and Engineering Technology is assisting Universiti Malaysia Pahang in the creation of an engineering technology program. The program will help Malaysia meet a tremendous need for engineering technologists. The government there recently indicated that their proposed plan for the future entails having 60 percent of their technical workforce...

NIU’s Enhancing Engineering Pathways (NIU-EEP) aims to establish a sustainable pathway for girls into the field of engineering. To create and strengthen the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) pipeline, another year of NIU-EEP’s free summer camp will take place from June 11 through June 15. The application is available online. Launched in 2008, and...

NIU is joining an effort to help maintain the Rockford region’s status as one of the leading aerospace clustersin the country. Representatives from NIU and the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology joined Rockford-area leaders today to announce a new, community-based initiative that will significantly increase the region’s aerospace talent pipeline for high-paying jobs. Establishment...

Armed with a business plan that could provide inexpensive electrical power to families across the developing world, Team Light Up Africa took top honors in the first ever Social Venture Business Plan Competition at Northern Illinois University. Their ambitious plan to build and sell small generator/battery storage units – which can be powered by the...

NIU’s College of Engineering & Engineering Technology hosted 24 companies Oct. 20  for the biannual engineering and engineering technology job and internship fair. More than 170 current students attended the fair in hopes of finding internship and full-time employment opportunities. Representatives from companies of all size ranges, including Caterpillar, John Deere, Navistar, Hamilton Sundstand and...