NJCU and Manomet U360 Announce Strategic Partnership
JERSEY CITY, N.J. | New Jersey City University (NJCU) and Manomet have announced a partnership to connect NJCU students with Manomet’s U360 Business Sustainability Internship Program. The collaboration will provide access to internships for NJCU’s diverse student population.
U360 is a virtual experiential education and professional development program for college students to learn soft skills, environmental science, and business sustainability concepts and apply them in the real world through direct engagement with small businesses.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Manomet to provide our NJCU students with such an enriching internship experience. The tenets of the program—including sustainability, leadership, community, experiential education, and professional development—very much fit in with the mission of New Jersey City University and our School of Business Career Services department,” said Josh Iannuzzi, Career Services Director, School of Business at NJCU. “I know that our diverse student population will be an asset to the U360 program and we look forward to all they can contribute and attain while working with the amazing Manomet team.”
Solving today’s complex global issues in a way that balances economic, social, and environmental concerns requires bringing together diverse groups of people. In particular, today’s college students and young professionals need to be actively engaged and possess the interpersonal skills necessary to create change.
“Manomet’s U360 program will specifically help students to develop critical thinking, oral/written communication, leadership, teamwork, work ethic, and digital technology competencies, which the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has identified as essential to college students seeking employment,” Iannuzzi added.
Over the course of two semesters, each U360 student leads up to 25 small business owners through Manomet’s assessment of their environmental, social, and governance practices. By discussing sustainability with dozens of business owners around the country, students are forced to see the world through the business owner’s eyes. At the end of the program, each student creates a comprehensive action plan for one business, learning how the business can make money, save money, and reduce risks through more sustainable operating practices. Through these experiences, U360 students develop strong communication and professional skills and the ability to create practical, sustainable business solutions.
“While there are countless opportunities for college students who want to complete an internship or experience real-world learning outside of the classroom, what sets U360 apart is that it’s an experiential education and a professional development program focused on preparing young change-makers to make a difference in the world,” says Lora Babb, U360 Director.
“We are thrilled that New Jersey City University is the first university outside of the New England area to be partnering with us and that we will be ‘graduating’ our first NJCU student from our U360 internship this spring. Manomet is committed to ensuring the inclusivity of our educational training and to reach broader audiences. This partnership with NJCU is the first step forward on an exciting path.”
For more information about NJCU’s partnership, contact Josh Iannuzzi in the NJCU School of Business at jiannuzzi2@njcu.edu.
About Manomet
Manomet uses science and collaboration to strengthen flyways, coastal ecosystems, and working lands and seas across the Western Hemisphere. For over 50 years, Manomet has formed vital partnerships with policy makers, researchers and educators to help nature and local communities thrive. For more information, visit www.manomet.org.
About NJCU
New Jersey City University is an institution of higher learning with an audacious goal: the development of our students, our city, our communities, our state, and the world beyond. We are a game-changing force for our students and their families. Whether our students are enrolled in one of our 50 undergraduate, 28 graduate or three doctoral programs, NJCU provides an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty—all of which prepares them to be critical thinkers in a global landscape.
We’re also changing the game for our city, our communities, and our state. As the educational anchor institution in Jersey City, we’ve established partnerships to ensure the area’s growth directly benefits our students and community members. We seek to improve the lives of everyone in the Garden State, whether creating a home for the arts, bringing educational programs to K-12 students, offering bachelor’s degrees in partnership with community colleges, or providing professional development opportunities for adults.
At NJCU, we’re not just educating minds, we’re nourishing souls and lifting communities. We’re changing the game.
Contact:
Ira Thor, Senior Director of University Communications and Media Relations | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301