More than 800 students, educators and professionals participated in the 2024 Tech Days of Fall—a series of free events in September and October aimed at helping students and jobseekers connect with local tech companies and grow the industry. The University of Hawaiʻi and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii have sponsored the event since 2023, offering networking and career exploration opportunities in the tech and cyber sectors.
Kyla Lee serves as the president of the Association for Computing Machinery at UH and was the chairperson for the Tech Days Student Advisory Committee. The senior, who is majoring in computer science, said Tech Days were invaluable for connecting students with real-world opportunities and innovative Hawaiʻi tech companies.
“Being part of events like Tech Days has opened my eyes to the incredible range of paths available and has helped me connect with professionals who are eager to support students,” Lee said. “These experiences allow us to gain hands-on insights and create networks that are crucial for launching successful careers in the tech industry.”
This fall, Tech Days also worked with the founder and organizers of Honolulu Tech Week, to put even more focus on tech opportunities for the next generation. The kick-off event for Tech Days was aligned with the grand opening of the UH Cybersecurity Clinic, and the launch of a new product by a local tech start-up with UH roots.
“UH is committed to preparing our students and connecting them with the good paying jobs in the IT/Cybersecurity sector,” said UH President David Lassner. “We are grateful to our industry partners for their collaboration and support, which helps many students with practical experiences, internships and employment.”
Other Tech Days co-sponsors included the CIO Council of Hawaii, CyberHawaii, the Hawaii Defense Alliance, the Pacific Intelligence Innovation Initiative, Honolulu Tech Week, Association of Computing Machinery, Information Technology Management Association, the Pacific Center for Advanced Technology Training, ThriveHI, the Hawaii Annual Code Challenge , the Hawaiʻi Department of Education and the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship.
The collaboration between educators and industry supports workforce development, one of the UH System Strategic Plan’s four imperatives.