April 2, 2025 marked an exciting step forward for San José’s tech scene as Plug and Play announced the launch of its new AI Center of Excellence right in the heart of downtown.
The city hall event drew in several executives and officials from the City of San José, San José State University, PG&E and Plug and Play. SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson spoke at the launch event about the natural synergy between Plug and Play and the university.
As she shared in a recent Mercury News article: “We are very aligned with the vision that Mayor Mahan has for the city to take advantage of this age of intelligence. The city and our university community will be rapidly supporting AI in all forms of intelligence, as well as emerging technologies that we can’t imagine today.”
Executives and city officials at San José City Hall.
Ensuring students are ready for the AI-powered future is a top priority at the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business. Dean Rangapriya Kannan emphasized the college’s commitment to a human-centered approach to AI education.
“To be honest, I don’t think any student that graduates without these skills is going to get a job in the next five years,” Kannan stated in a recent Silicon Valley Business Journal article. “They might get by the next two to three years before people realize they’re not ready.”
In partnership with Plug and Play, SJSU’s Spartan Spark Academy Innovation Bootcamp, to be hosted by the Lucas College, will empower San José high school students to become future-ready entrepreneurs by combining AI innovation with real-world problem-solving. Rooted in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and SJSU’s AI for Civic and Social Good initiative, this program guides students through entrepreneurial principles, design thinking, and business planning. According to Kannan, the “program equips high school students with the skills, mindset, and confidence to create inclusive, AI-powered ventures that make a lasting impact.”
This forward-thinking approach involves integrating AI into the curriculum in a way that cultivates not just technical skills, but also ethical considerations and crucial human interaction. The goal? To empower students to see AI as a collaborative partner, driving solutions to real-world human challenges.
Lucas College and Graduate School of Business faculty, staff, students and alumni consistently make a significant impact in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Many graduates have gone on to excel in various industries, with a notable presence in Silicon Valley. These organizations recognize and value the exceptional education and skills our alumni bring to their roles, making San José State University a key contributor to the region’s thriving economy. With competitive tuition and outstanding career outcomes, our college is among the top institutions for return on investment (ROI), delivering unparalleled value for money in higher education. We offer MBA, PMBA, MSFA, MSAA and MSTM degrees at the graduate level and 14 different BSBA concentrations at the undergraduate level, the largest set of offerings among the CSUs. These include accounting, accounting information systems, business analytics, corporate accounting & finance, entrepreneurship, finance, general business, hospitality, tourism, & event management, human resources management, international business, management, management information systems, marketing, and operations & supply chain management.