Access to compute resources can be a barrier for many learners to acquire technology job skills. Complex compute problems that require advance knowledge can be expensive for organizations to host or provide to learners. Network Development Group had a vision for building an online portal to help solve this problem. As of January 2022 over 100,000 learners have benefited from a collaboration of academia, industry, and government.
Be part of the solution by joining our collaboration. Are you working on a grant or project that could benefit from the academic cloud? Would you like to be a node in the cloud?
The University of South Carolina (USC) uses the Academic Cloud for research purposes. The goals of the USC’s Cyberinfrastructure lab (CI Lab) are to enhance the performance of high-speed networks; to develop new protocols and techniques using P4 programmable switches; and to investigate cyberattacks on IoT devices. USC’s PhD students and collaborators at institutions like the University of South Florida and the University of Texas at San Antonio use the platform to conduct research and develop innovative solutions to significant engineering problems.
The Academic Cloud is used for class instruction and research. To date the cloud has been used by Research and Education Networks (RENs) for training IT professionals (regional and national backbones / service providers); and by government entities to train personnel on cybersecurity and networking topics (e.g., ESnet / Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence, U.S. Army National Guard, and others). More information can be found online at USC’s CI Lab website:
For additional information, please feel free to contact Dr. Jorge Crichigno.
Stanly Community College uses the Academic Cloud to change the lives of local students and remote students on a daily basis. The Academic Cloud helps provide Stanly Community College with compute resources needed for hands-on labs, giving their students real-world learning experience. The Academic Cloud is a combination of tech and server resources shared across institutions in order to expand reach to students while providing lower maintenance and management costs. The Academic Cloud provides a highly scalable, realistic hands-on learning environment for academic institutions that students and instructors can access 24x7. Stanly Community College also provides training to instructors through their Instructor Training Center.
The National Science Foundation awarded Stanly Community College a grant for a project entitled, Collaborative: Multi-state Community College, University and Industry Collaboration to Prepare Learners for 21st Century Information Technology Jobs. Learn more here.
If you are interested in learning more about creating an Academic cloud for your institution and students, contact us
As part of the VMware 2030 Agenda, VMware recognizes the critical role technology plays in building a digital future that is equitable, accessible, and inclusive. The Academic Cloud is fueled by VMware multi-cloud solutions, including vCenter, vSphere and ESXI. The Academic software licensing program designed to help academic institutions with research, education, and social impact. To learn more about the VMware Academic Software license program visit: VMware Academic Software Licensing Program .
A variety of VMware labs are already hosted in the academic cloud. To learn more visit: https://ndg.tech/vmware .
NDG is seeking to collaborate with academia, industry, and government to help more learners. Let us know if you have interest in working with NDG, USC, or SCC to support this model. How could you help? Include the model in your research or grant projects.
