Our belief in the vast potential of UIC’s 22,000 undergraduates led us to create Chicago Tech Circle. We are insistent on creating value for both students and organizations.

We develop students’ skills in data and artificial intelligence, and we connect this new wave of talent with organizations for internships, consulting projects, and more.

CTC has its roots in a University of Illinois Chicago program called Break Through Tech Chicago, which encouraged women and nonbinary students to pursue computing majors and gave them the skills required for successful tech careers.

The success of Break Through Tech Chicago, which doubled the number of women and nonbinary students in computing between 2020 and 2025, demonstrated the value of UIC talent. The need for new hires who are fluent in data and AI told us a story about workplace demand. We launched CTC in 2025 as a purpose-built organization to give UIC undergraduates applied data and AI skills.

Skill development as a catalyst for change

CTC supports UIC’s mission to educate students who produce transformative socioeconomic outcomes for themselves, their families, and their communities.

CTC students will:

  • develop high-utility skills to become part of the talent pipeline
  • acquire diverse perspectives and test out new ideas
  • apply data and AI skills to improve their community

CTC’s partner companies and organizations will:

  • create socioeconomic change
  • connect with high-potential talent and access flexible capacity to handle temporary surges in work
  • gain brand awareness at Chicago’s flagship public university

We are willing to bet on our talent. We invite our partners to do the same.

Get in touch: chicagotechcircle@uic.edu.