Jacobus Boers, principal lecturer, was officially named director of PACE in January.
The best relationships are symbiotic. That’s the mindset Jacobus Boers has brought to the Panthers Accelerated Career Experience (PACE). Boers, a principal lecturer in the Robinson College of Business, served as the program’s interim director last fall and was officially named director in January.
Launched in 2014, PACE is an experiential semester-long undergraduate course (BUSA 4500) open to any Georgia State student with a 3.3 or higher GPA. Instead of reading textbooks and taking tests, participants break into teams and work with real companies on projects aligning with their career interests. Within the past couple years, PACE became the capstone for undergraduate management majors pursuing the management consulting track. More changes are in the works that will maximize the benefits for all parties involved.
PACE already offers significant value to companies. They gain access not only to potential hires but also to the perspective of Generation Z.
“We’ve collaborated with organizations that want to understand what makes employers attractive to Gen Z talent,” Boers said. “A few years ago, students assisted Newell Rubbermaid in releasing a product likely to appeal to their demographic. They suggested strategies for reaching that age group.”
Boers is upping the ante by shifting how projects are sourced. Moving forward, he will confer with Jason Aldrich, associate dean for strategic partnerships and career advancement, who has longstanding connections with companies as well as knowledge of the issues they want to address.
“Instead of focusing inward solely on students, we are looking outward and also basing projects on our partners’ needs,” Boers said.
Since PACE’s inception, 822 students have completed 179 projects for Fortune 500 companies, startups, nonprofits, the city of Atlanta, and other entities across industries. For example, a team of PACE students recently devised a comprehensive plan to develop a customer service chatbot for Mansfield Energy. The group traveled to Gainesville, Georgia, to present their recommendations to the company’s CIO, senior vice president for finance, and nine IT specialists.
“The team outlined all the elements that needed to be considered for successful implementation,” Boers said. “That included integration with backend systems, cybersecurity and data privacy issues, and ensuring chatbot users could escalate an issue to a real person.”
A team of PACE students recently devised a comprehensive plan to develop a customer service chatbot for Mansfield Energy. The group traveled to Gainesville, Georgia, to present their recommendations to the company’s CIO, senior vice president for finance, and nine IT specialists.
Another group recently explored the viability of selling merchandise branded for the Municipal Market, located in Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn neighborhood. The space houses approximately 30 tenants including eateries, a produce stand, a seafood vendor, and a bakery.
“The market has a rich history and a tourist element to it,” Boers said. “When people visit these types of markets across the country, they often leave with a t-shirt or cap.”
A team of PACE students recently explored the viability of selling merchandise branded for the Municipal Market, located in Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn neighborhood.
With more than a decade of success under its belt, the PACE program has become a model for other units across the university to emulate. Funded by a grant from Georgia State’s Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning & Online Education (CETLOE), Boers will spearhead the development of a series of learning modules on soft skills that are especially critical when interfacing with the external community.
“Coming across professionally and aligning output with the client’s goals is a powerful skill. But teaching that to students can be a challenge,” Boers said. “In the real world, all the answers aren’t given. Sometimes you have to guess and go ask questions. The content will cover that problem-solving methodology.”
Currently, one PACE course occurs every fall and spring. As soon as next year, Boers hopes to increase the number of PACE sections offered each semester. The demand from both students and companies warrants a program expansion.
“Our alumni consistently report that PACE is the main thing employers want to talk about during job interviews,” Boers said. “And companies come back year after year to engage with our students. These projects require a lot of time from our partners, but that commitment is worth the value.”