It’s in our name. It’s part of our DNA. When it comes to Texas, we support our roots.
Back in the day, TI founders knew the next big breakthroughs would come from hands-on engineering. In the 60s, this moved them to establish the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest (which would later become The University of Texas at Dallas), giving PhD-level engineers a place to explore their ideas.
Today, this same commitment is reinforced in undergraduate initiatives, with TI helping establish two state-of-the art facilities at campuses in the University of Texas System.
Earlier this month, The University of Texas at Austin announced TI’s support to the Cockrell School of Engineering for its new Engineering Education and Research Center (EERC), scheduled to open in 2017; and, on Feb. 19, The University of Texas at Dallas opened its new TI Innovation Lab for students in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.
At both facilities, the goal is the same: build toward future innovation.
Enabling future problem-solvers
These new lab spaces are integral to helping faculty build curriculum that emphasizes a hands-on teaching and learning environment. Just as important, they put TI technology into the hands of students, who will be the innovators of tomorrow.
“Students are critical to creating innovative solutions for the world’s biggest challenges,” said Greg Delagi, senior vice president and general manager, Embedded Processing for Texas Instruments, and a member on the UT Austin Engineering Advisory Board. “By putting TI technology into the capable hands of these future innovators, we hope to accelerate their work and help professors address the ever-evolving needs of engineering.”
TI Embedded SVP Greg Delagi met with UT Austin President Bill Powers and students to sign the official gift agreement for $3.5 million in support of teaching labs in the new EERC.
Greg called innovation “the common thread” between TI and the UT system, at a recent event to announce the UT Austin gift. He noted that TI depends on universities for research and education in semiconductor device development, design and improvement. “We are committed to advancing electrical engineering education and research with a focus on enabling graduates to work with us to build a better future,” he said.
This future includes solving problems of global significance, with TI engineers already working on advances to improve everything from healthcare diagnosis and delivery, automotive safety and fuel efficiency, and renewable energy, creating distributed technologies for smart grid management and more.
“TI understands the value of a well-rounded workforce and has been a long-standing partner in our efforts to bolster hands-on learning opportunities for our students,” said Ahmed Tewfik, chair of the Cockrell School’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “Thanks to TI’s extraordinary support, our students will be well positioned for the engineering jobs of the future.”
Reinforcing knowledge and creativity
While different in scope and scale, the TI sponsored labs at UT Austin and UT Dallas are designed to include flexible space for faculty and student use to reinforce knowledge and foster creativity.
UT Austin’s EERC will house project-based undergraduate embedded systems, analog and communications classes, while also providing much-needed space for senior design project classes. A portion of TI’s gift also will be used to equip the labs with the latest TI technologies.
Renderings of the new EERC building at The University of Texas at Austin, set to open in 2017.
Rendered view of the research floor that will be within the new EERC building at The University of Texas at Austin.
At UT Dallas, the TI Innovation Lab will be used to reinforce knowledge gained in lectures, with UT Dallas faculty developing lab courses to align with theory learned in class. Lab exercises will range from modules that align with lectures to open-ended, team-based projects. Students will also be able to use the new space 24/7 for independent projects.
“These projects could be part of their UT Design capstone project, their entrepreneurial project, a class assignment or just a dream,” said Rod Wetterskog, assistant dean of corporate relations for Jonsson School.
Ultimately, the labs are about teaching students to dream big.
TI Analog SVP Steve Anderson receives a demo of a UT Dallas student project at the opening of the TI Innovation Lab.
The new TI Innovation Lab will equip students will opportunities to explore their creative ideas and to make learning hands-on.
While grades are important, they aren’t everything that companies look for when recruiting. During his recent talk at UT Austin, Greg shared this parting thought: “Creativity, curiosity and leadership skills are fundamental not only to your success, but also to engineering and the difference it will make in our world.”
Learn more about TI's university program here.
