Gift of software helps Ryerson students graduate career-ready

JDA Software Group enhances curriculum in the Ted Rogers School of Retail Management.

Jim Armstrong, co-founder and former chairman of JDA Software, graduated from Ryerson’s Mechanical and Industrial Engineering program in 1972. In 2003, he gave back to his alma mater by generously donating a gift of retail software applications. This year, the company extended their ongoing relationship with Ryerson, donating software and license agreements valued at over $7 million to the Ted Rogers School of Management.

“Thanks to the generosity of JDA, Ryerson offers an important integrated learning environment to Retail Management students,” says Sean Sedlezky, Manager, Program Design, Ted Rogers School of Retail Management, and Retail Academic Coordinator, G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education. 

“JDA has provided software to Ryerson University for many years enabling them to incorporate JDA’s supply chain solutions into their curriculum,” says Wayland Fox, a senior director of product management at JDA Software. He adds, “our mutual goal is for their students to gain valuable knowledge and experience with JDA solutions that will make them more marketable upon graduation and set them on the path to career success.”

Ted Rogers School of Retail Management students learn how to use the software’s category management applications in their third year of study. In Visual Merchandising and Space Planning, students examine leading edge visual merchandising practices with respect to in-store design and layout. JDA Software is used in the lab component of the course and enables students to plan in-store displays, window and fixture design and configuration. JDA Software is also used in the faculty’s Executive Education program. 

As a leader in the sector, the company's client list includes PepsiCo, Best Buy, Canadian Tire and many more of the world’s leading brands.

“Being exposed to software that the industry is using gave me a competitive advantage after graduation, but it also helped me select another direction to take in my career,” says Alyssa Ing, a space planning specialist at Canadian Tire, and 2011 graduate from the School of Retail Management at Ryerson University. 

Prior to Canadian Tire, Ing worked at Home Depot, Sears, and helped open the first J.Crew store in Canada, as well as the first Adidas Sports Performance store at Yonge and Dundas in Toronto.

“Although aesthetics are an important part of visualization and space planning, I learned from my education and from using JDA that having the ability to analyze data is equally important,” says Ing. “We use metrics to allocate space to products that are high sellers and deserve the space,” she explains. “As retail real estate remains competitive, retailers must constantly re-evaluate their current store space productivity. JDA gives you the entire package to be able to accomplish this, and more.”