2008 Woodie Awards
Founder Osama Eljabiri Discusses CCS Capstone's Goals and Strengths
Alexander Sheppard
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: News
Capstone Founder Osama Eljabiri detailed several goals of the Capstone program in a correspondence with the Vector on Sunday. Professor Eljabiri was able to provide a long and detailed answer to the question, "What do students get from the Capstone program?" in addition to explaining his own role as a coordinator.
"Students get to use and apply what they have learned in four years of college education through full-scale real world project scenarios sponsored by the industry or initiated by the students," says Eljabiri.
Highlighting the Capstone's role in preparing students for the world after college, Eljabiri said that "students learn what they will use after graduation as a result of Capstone real world project-based learning and through our Capstone Open University." The Open University is a program "that offers free year-round training in on-demand skills not usually covered by the traditional college curriculum."
That preparation also takes the form of direct contact with potential employers. "As a result of the capstone program, students get instant jobs and strong endorsements for jobs from our industry partners," Eljabiri explains. "In the showcase, we had employers from Cybershift, Estee Louder, NJ transit, Saint Barnabas Health Systems and many more there to hire students after seeing their outstanding projects accomplishments."
"We have had hundreds of students who got jobs in the last seven years as a result of Capstone fast career track, Capstone endorsements and Capstone real world training," says Eljabiri.
The experience can also take the form of students becoming entrepreneurs and starting their own companies. "Students develop their own businesses out of the capstone experience," says Eljabiri, who adds that 15 teams have so far created businesses. "We train entrepreneurs, give then access to customers and give reimbursement for their business initiation expenses while in the Capstone program."
"Students build a great deal of leadership and project management skills. We train our students in project management, leadership and team building skills," Eljabiri says. "We actually let the students run a virtual company as CEO's, CTO's and teachers and advisors to peers."
"Students get to use and apply what they have learned in four years of college education through full-scale real world project scenarios sponsored by the industry or initiated by the students," says Eljabiri.
Highlighting the Capstone's role in preparing students for the world after college, Eljabiri said that "students learn what they will use after graduation as a result of Capstone real world project-based learning and through our Capstone Open University." The Open University is a program "that offers free year-round training in on-demand skills not usually covered by the traditional college curriculum."
That preparation also takes the form of direct contact with potential employers. "As a result of the capstone program, students get instant jobs and strong endorsements for jobs from our industry partners," Eljabiri explains. "In the showcase, we had employers from Cybershift, Estee Louder, NJ transit, Saint Barnabas Health Systems and many more there to hire students after seeing their outstanding projects accomplishments."
"We have had hundreds of students who got jobs in the last seven years as a result of Capstone fast career track, Capstone endorsements and Capstone real world training," says Eljabiri.
The experience can also take the form of students becoming entrepreneurs and starting their own companies. "Students develop their own businesses out of the capstone experience," says Eljabiri, who adds that 15 teams have so far created businesses. "We train entrepreneurs, give then access to customers and give reimbursement for their business initiation expenses while in the Capstone program."
"Students build a great deal of leadership and project management skills. We train our students in project management, leadership and team building skills," Eljabiri says. "We actually let the students run a virtual company as CEO's, CTO's and teachers and advisors to peers."
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