Innovation News

As Tulsa's innovation and technology ecosystem rapidly expands, many companies face a common challenge: finding qualified talent to fill critical roles. At the same time, students pursuing degrees in tech-led fields are searching for meaningful, paid opportunities to gain real-world experience toward their careers.

The Tulsa Higher Education Consortium's T3 internship program is solving both problems at once.

What is T3?

T3 facilitates paid internships that connect students from across the Tulsa region with innovation-driven companies in technology, engineering, and related fields. The program creates a structured pathway for students to gain hands-on experience while helping employers build their talent pipeline with vetted and trained candidates.

A Win-Win for Students and Employers

For students, T3 provides more than just a paycheck. It offers exposure to real-world challenges, mentorship from industry professionals, and the chance to build a professional network before graduation.

For employers, the program addresses immediate staffing needs while allowing them to evaluate and develop talent that understands their operations and culture. It's an investment in the future workforce with immediate returns.

"There are hundreds of students in many different tech programs across the nine colleges and universities in the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium. Our T3 program matches students in those programs—like cybersecurity, computer information systems, computer engineering—with employers who have paid internships," says Laura Latta of the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium.

Why This Matters for Tulsa

Workforce development isn't just about filling today's open positions, it's about creating a sustainable ecosystem where talent wants to stay and grow. Programs like T3 demonstrate Tulsa's commitment to building that ecosystem.

By keeping talented graduates in the region and giving them meaningful opportunities early in their careers, we strengthen our entire innovation economy. Every intern who becomes a full-time employee is another skilled professional contributing to Tulsa's growth.

Get Involved

Are you an employer looking to connect with talented students in tech-led fields? The T3 program can help you build your workforce pipeline.

Are you a student or educator interested in learning more about internship opportunities through T3?

Reach out to us to learn more about how the T3 internship program can support your goals. Together, we're building Tulsa's tech talent pipeline, one internship at a time.

• info@tulsahighered.com
• info@tulsainnovationlabs.com