This project aims to improve technology transfer from academics to industry by better preparing students to understand the research process and to assess the capabilities and limitations of emerging technologies. In many cases, current undergraduate computer science curriculums do not prepare the student to analyze research in the field. By immersing students in a research environment at school, it is believed that they will be able to extrapolate future trends encountered in the workplace. The ability to make informed decisions is necessary to rapidly move research to production. Graduates with this experience are expected to be able to provide thoughtful analysis for or against new technologies, giving their employers the confidence to push new technologies to the forefront.The funds provided by the ILI project will enable the institution to launch a research oriented curriculum. The machines, terminals and CASE software provided will provide students with the same facilities used by faculty researchers. Students will be guided through a curriculum designed to teach them to perform research support for faculty members and/or to perform independent research. First, students will be introduced to large scale coding and documentation techniques in a software engineering course. This will be followed by an introduction to one or more research areas providing some in- depth knowledge. The experience will be completed with a senior research seminar course in which the student is allowed to do independent research or become involved in a faculty member's research by implementing theoretical results.
