Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia Institute of Technology (also known as Georgia Tech) is a 140+ year old higher education institution located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. With more than 53,000 students, it is a powerhouse of both research and education primarily in STEM fields, though it also has prominent Colleges dedicated to liberal arts, business and design.

Many of the 7 constituent colleges of Georgia Tech are highly ranked within the United States and globally. The UG College of Engineering is ranked third in the USA, with both UG and PG programs offered by the Scheller College of Business in the top 20 in the country (according to US News). 

Research is a key part of what sets Georgia Institute of Technology apart. It is a Carnegie-classified R1 institution, a member of the most elite group of US Universities in terms of research funding and output. Every year, more than $1.3 billion is spent across the research labs at Georgia Tech, and this leads to cutting edge results in fields such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology, as well as direct impact in the city of Atlanta in keeping with the Institute’s commitment to benefiting the local community.

Georgia Tech is renowned across the world for its ability to conduct high level research and convert those ideas into workable and scalable businesses. The Georgia Tech Research Corporation was set up to protect and monetize the intellectual property associated with the research output of the Institute, and it is ranked #38 in the world in terms of patents granted every year. The US News and World Report ranks it in the top 3 of most Innovative Schools in the country.

Georgia Tech’s research is organized into 23 focus areas, and most of these link directly to issues of relevance for the world at large, from Climate to Artificial Intelligence, and Hypersonics to Sustainability. These are often interdisciplinary; for example, Advanced Manufacturing brings together experts in materials science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering to create nanoscale fabrications that can be applied in many different fields. 

With over 14 decades of history, Georgia Tech has produced achievers in multiple fields, including two Nobel Laureates (for Peace and Chemistry), multiple business owners and renowned scientists (e.g. at NASA), and 150+ athletes going on to play in elite sports leagues e.g. the NFL.

The Georgia Tech alumni website allows ex-students from different Colleges to connect and network for professional purposes; each department also has its own alumni website for more focused networking.

As one of the premier research and STEM education higher education institutions in the world, Georgia Tech has some of the most cutting edge laboratory facilities in the USA. Uniquely, the laboratories attached to the Institute are located both on and off campus, with 20+ labs (for highly specialized research) located in the Greater Atlanta region. This allows for greater community outreach, and ensures that Georgia Tech’s aim of benefiting the community at large with its research is realized.

Georgia Tech’s campus is located in the vibrant Midtown area of Atlanta. This is a hub of arts and culture, and is also located near many large companies. This ensures that students have access to the best internships and community experiences without having to travel far. The campus is large despite its central location, with trees lining each roadway within the 400 acre area.

The 500+ student organizations on campus are organized into 4 categories: academic, social service, cultural, and special interest. These are made even more concrete through dedicated “innovation districts” within the Institute, including a Tech Square, a Creative Quarter, and a Science Square, The campus is also home to multiple types of housing options, including dorms, apartments, and themed communities. There are also several restaurants and markets within the 400 acres, ensuring that all students have access to healthy food at affordable price points.

The Enterprise Innovation Institute (EII) at Georgia Tech has 12+ programs that together work to help turn the ideas that students have into economically viable initiatives.

It has four main focus areas. The first is entrepreneurship & startup development, which is directly linked to providing mentorship and funding to help student businesses scale and succeed. The second is business & industry growth,through which the Institute engages with large corporate sectors in the United States fir ongoing employment and knowledge transfer initiatives. The third is ecosystem development, where it engages the local community in Atlanta and provides know-how to lift up all startups in the region. Finally, another priority area is international outreach. This is especially important for cutting edge ideas at the junction of high tech and business, where the Institute is able to use its global renown to connect campus entrepreneurs with those doing similar work in a different geography.

The Wellness Empowerment Center at Georgia Tech provides services and resources to ensure 100% physical and mental well-being of all members of the University community. It is also backed by Stamps Health Services, which serves all physical health needs ranging from immunization to Health Insurance and pharmacy purchases, and mental health and spiritual counselors with whom sessions can be booked by students on a long-term or emergency basis. It provides everything from critical care to treatment for allergies and short term issues.

The Wellness Empowerment Center umbrella also includes initiatives such as VOICE, which provides support to victims of sexual abuse. On an ongoing basis, it provides nutrition information, financial advice, and innovative measures such as pet therapy to help create a happy and healthy campus for all residents.

In terms of long term student welfare, Georgia Tech graduates have access to some of the highest salaries in the country after graduating. For example, even undergraduates have median salaries in excess of $40,000 in their first year of employment, and postgraduates are paid, on average, more than $120,000 per year within a decade of leaving Georgia Tech.

Given that women have historically been underrepresented in STEM education and research, Georgia Tech makes it a priority to ensure equal enrollment. This is both done at the admission level, and through courses such as the Minor degree in Women, Science and Technology (WST), which aims to equip students with the context they need to support structural reform in this field.

The Pride Alliance and the LGBTQIA Resource Center at Georgia Tech provide support to all students, from mentorship to counseling, and access to gender-affirming surgery. This is in keeping with the Institute’s commitment to ensuring a safe space for all students, regardless of sexual orientiation or gender.

Georgia Institute of Technology takes the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals very seriously, with an annual report published highlighting the campus’ contributions towards the SDGs. For example, the No Poverty SDG is served by the Alternative Service Breaks Club at Georgia Tech, which has undertaken 65 trips (with 10 of them being international) since its formation, spending 4,400+ hours serving underprivileged communities, and funding 23 local initiatives aimed towards eliminating inequality.

Georgia Tech ensures that all members of the campus community are continually reminded of the part they can play towards realizing the UN SDGs through initiatives like Sustainability Week, which is typically held in March every year, and includes multiple events and awareness initiatives.

The Princeton Review ranks it among the Top 50 Green Campuses in the United States for both the vegetation on campus and its sustainability efforts.

Atlanta’s location in the southern United States means that the climate is relatively warm all year around, and students of Georgia Tech can access mountains, lakes, hiking sites, and camping locations within an hour of the main campus.

Specifically, the Midtown Atlanta region in which the campus of Georgia Tech is located is a hub of culture, entertainment, business, and sport. It is also conveniently located near the Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, one of the busiest in the world, with connecting flights to most of the major cities globally.