Sacred Heart University Discusses Joining Fairfield Alliance Connecting Students With Local Businesses

FAIRFIELD, CT — Sacred Heart University has joined the Fairfield Business & University Alliance, a partnership with the Town of Fairfield, the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce and Fairfield University aimed at connecting students with local employers through internships, consulting projects and other experiential learning opportunities.

The alliance is designed to give Sacred Heart students opportunities to apply classroom learning to projects with area businesses, expand professional networks and pursue jobs and internships within the Fairfield community.

For students in Sacred Heart University's Welch College of Business & Technology, the partnership includes consulting projects, internships and collaborative work with local entrepreneurs and small businesses.

"Universities should not simply prepare graduates for the economy, they should help build the economy alongside the communities they serve," said Andrew Gaudes, interim dean of the Welch College of Business & Technology. "The future of higher education is not confined to the campus. It is embedded in the communities we serve. Our role is to bring together students, faculty, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, create opportunities, and strengthen the regional economy. This alliance represents exactly that kind of partnership."

Town officials said the partnership is intended to strengthen connections between local businesses and higher education.

"This alliance is a natural and powerful extension of Fairfield's commitment to economic vitality," said Mark Barnhart, director of community and economic development for the Town of Fairfield. "By aligning our local business ecosystem with the academic strength of our universities, we are creating opportunities that benefit students, entrepreneurs, and the broader community alike."

The alliance also includes Fairfield University as part of an effort to strengthen ties between higher education institutions and the local business community.

"Successful local economies are built on strong relationships between education, business, and community leaders," said Jennifer Trudeau-Tham, Sacred Heart associate professor of economics and a member of the Fairfield Economic Development Commission. "This alliance creates opportunities for students to contribute fresh ideas while learning directly from the entrepreneurs and organizations that make Fairfield such a vibrant place to live and work. These experiences encourage students to see Fairfield as a community where they can build their futures and continue contributing long after graduation."