Amazon and George Mason University collaborate to deliver new innovations in education and research

Photo credit: Even Cantwell, Creative Services, George Mason University

George Mason University (Mason) is on a mission to build a more student centric and technologically advanced education institution. Leveraging the breadth and depth of services across Amazon, including technical solutions from Amazon Web Services (AWS), the university will embark on a multi-year collaborative effort. Mason will drive new innovations to better serve students, work with the defense community, advance its commitment to a more sustainable campus environment, and introduce new educational programs in data center engineering.

The university has been at the forefront of embracing the importance of cloud computing technology and this collaborative effort will create more valuable experiences for those engaging with the university, including researchers, educators, administrators, students, and parents.

The university will work with AWS to implement enhanced high performance computing (HPC), machine learning (ML), and more, to accelerate its research capabilities and provide a new platform for innovation.

In addition, Mason will facilitate increased collaboration in the intelligence community, which will drive new discoveries with artificial intelligence (AI), containers, Internet of Things (IoT), and 5G technology. Mason will also develop a unified platform using the AWS Cloud to improve processes for students coming from community colleges and transferring into the university, eliminating obstacles and barriers to student success.

Mason faculty, students, staff, and public sector and industry partners can also expect the development of new approaches to address food insecurity, reduce the technical skills gap in data center engineering, and advance environmental priorities. In the coming years, students can access these novel programs and new curriculum that will help learners pursue careers in data center engineering across the greater Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, where there is an increasing need for mechanical engineering and electrical engineering talent. “The diverse talent pipeline that George Mason University produces is in part what attracted Amazon to Arlington,” said Gregory Washington, president of George Mason. “Mason’s work with Amazon will better serve the students in that pipeline, as well as drive economic growth through business, government, and community collaborations as Mason becomes one of the most technologically advanced, inclusive universities in the nation.”

This long-term strategic initiative is just the beginning of a collaboration between Amazon, AWS, and Mason to support students and innovation. The goal is to not only improve student outcomes, but create a more efficient and sustainable future for the university. This endeavor will also deliver a secure, cloud-based environment for university, industry, and government mission partners to conduct cutting edge research.

“George Mason University has proven to be a leading education institution in the nation’s capital for a number of years,” said Kim Majerus, vice president, US education, state, and local government at AWS. “As one of the first universities to launch a cloud computing degree program, Mason has always seen how the power of technology can help meet mission outcomes. This collaboration will be transformative in showing the positive impact technology can have on the education community across the nation, as well as advance research in cybersecurity, defense, and military intelligence for public sector leaders.”

George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. In 2022, Mason celebrates 50 years as an independent institution.

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