Dr. Bandyopadhyay’s journey with Riipen: Transforming students’ careers at Kennesaw State University.

Dr. Tridib Bandyopadhyay, a Professor of Information Systems and the Director of the MSIS program Master of Science in Information Systems at Kennesaw State University’s Coles College of Business, has dedicated his career to bridging the gap between high-level academic theory and real-world application. With years of experience in both academia and the energy sector, Dr. Bandyopadhyay is passionate about giving his students the technical skills they need to succeed in the workforce. In his mission to equip students for success, he found that the classroom could benefit from real-world experience. That’s when he discovered Riipen.

Dr. Bandyopadhyay’s experience with Riipen.

Dr. Bandyopadhyay’s IS 7920 class on IT Customer Relationships was one of the classes at Kennesaw State University that benefited from Riipen’s platform. Students worked with real companies using CRM applications, such as HubSpot and Airtable, to learn customer segmentation, pipeline management, and campaign development based on primary data. According to Dr. Bandyopadhyay, this shift from theory to practice was invaluable.

“Riipen is a responsive organization that offers AI-enabled matching of real-life projects with classroom experiences and provides hosted cloud services for seamless collaboration and communication between students, faculty, and project managers,” he shared, emphasizing the seamless nature of Riipen’s platform and the ease of collaboration it enables.

Bridging the gap between academia and industry.

As a professional who’s worked in academia and the energy sector, Dr. Bandyopadhyay understands firsthand the value of technical skills in the workplace. While students learn high-level concepts in school, there’s often a gap regarding practical, hands-on experience. He saw this gap and recognized that students needed more than just theoretical and classroom knowledge to thrive in today’s competitive job market.

“In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, technical skills are essential, but it takes visionary leadership to ensure students are equipped to apply those skills in real-world contexts. That’s why I sought out a platform that could bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry expectations, empowering my students to lead confidently in tech-driven environments." he explained.

Riipen proved to be a great fit. It has allowed his students to gain critical real-world experience while still in school, equipping them with the skills employers seek.

Dr. Solomon Negash, a Professor of Information Systems at Kennesaw State University, Coles College of Business shares this sentiment:

"This current experience has been fabulous! Thank you [Riipen] for managing it."

The impact of work-integrated learning on Kennesaw State's students.

Faculty support was critical to the success of this initiative. Dr. Bandyopadhyay worked with colleagues to bring Riipen to Kennesaw State, pitching the idea to faculty and the Dean. With their buy-in, he began running the program for undergraduate students and, in the summer, successfully incorporated it into three different programs.

He credits the partnership with Riipen as crucial in helping his students aspire to more competitive roles after graduation. However, he notes that for the relationship between educators and Riipen to be successful, educators must be willing to put in the extra work, acknowledging that faculty engagement and advanced preparation are crucial to giving students a step ahead in their future careers. “The work is challenging, but ultimately, it’s worth it. The experience gained through Riipen has given my students the tools to enhance the potential for professional success.” Because of this, he is eager to test out other Riipen programs, like Level UP, to see how he can further provide value to his students. 

Dr. Gunjan Batra, the Assistant Professor of of Information Systems and Security at Kennesaw State University, Coles College of Business, shares: “Teams produced professional-quality deliverables such as reports, recommendations, and presentations…Through this process, students gained exposure to emerging technology challenges while also strengthening their teamwork, communication, and presentation skills...They also valued working with a real company, mentorship of their leadership, which made the experience impactful, and appreciated the Riipen achievements they could showcase on LinkedIn.”

Dr. Bandyopadhyay’s thoughts on AI and the future workforce.

As AI continues to evolve, many students are concerned that it will replace their jobs. Dr. Bandyopadhyay has noticed this growing fear and believes it's crucial to address it head-on.

“AI is not here to take your career away; it's here to augment it,” he said. He reminds his students that AI, like any technological advancement, is a tool that supports human effort rather than replacing it. He references historical moments like the Industrial Revolution to ease students’ anxieties: “When the Industrial Revolution came, people had to retool themselves. Blacksmiths no longer needed their hammers and chisels; they had to learn how to use machines. The same thing is happening with AI. It’s not taking your job—it’s giving you new tools to work smarter and more effectively.”

Dr. Bandyopadhyay’s message is clear: embracing AI and learning how to use it is a way to stay relevant in the workforce, not a threat. He encourages his students to see AI as an ally, not an adversary. “In business history, we’ve seen these shifts before. New technology comes in, and we adapt. That’s what makes us more successful.” This is the same approach he takes when examining how different generations approach their careers and education. Time changes every process, so we must adapt and adjust accordingly. 

Advice for fellow educators.

Dr. Bandyopadhyay’s advice for fellow educators looking to make a similar impact on their students’ careers is simple: continue to learn and adapt. As he puts it, “Change requires hard work, but good things never come easily.” His enthusiasm for integrating real-world projects into the curriculum shows that by embracing tools like Riipen, educators can give their students the edge they need to succeed in the workforce.

“Never lose the excitement for learning,” he urges. “The more you invest in your students’ future, the more they’ll be prepared to invest in theirs.”

If you’re an educator seeking to empower your students with real-world learning opportunities, we invite you to schedule a demo with Riipen to learn more about how we can assist you.