Manufacturing Associate Degree Education in Northwestern Connecticut

随着先进制造业在美国的发展，越来越需要准备一支熟练、灵活和创新的劳动力队伍。该项目正在开发一个高级制造技术员副学士学位课程，旨在增加康涅狄格州(CT)西北角的熟练工人数量，并为学生提供一条途径，让他们可以攻读制造业的副学士学位，从而促进他们的职业生涯。该学院与三个学校系统合作，西北康涅狄格制造商联盟(NCMC)和地区下一代制造中心(RCNGM)。此外，该学院是康涅狄格理工学院(COT)的长期成员。因此，该学院及其合作伙伴受益于COT制定的最佳实践、课程和表述。该项目正在通过创建制造技术课程和一条可以被其他高中和社区大学采用的职业道路，以及通过增加对从事制造业职业感兴趣的高中和社区大学生的数量，来增加高等教育和行业之间的合作伙伴关系。对西北地区制造商的调查帮助确定了本项目正在解决的四个行业驱动的、基于劳动力的需求：1.招聘：招聘熟练的制造业劳动力需要提高对先进技术和制造领域职业可能性的认识。该项目正在继续实施目前针对初中生和高中生的外展计划，以告知未来的熟练工人。它还使失业、未充分就业、流离失所和在岗工人接触到西北部CT2内制造业的必要技能和职业可能性。教育：全国大多数高科技行业的制造商表示，他们很难填补职位空缺，因为应聘者缺乏工作所需的技能。该项目正在开发一条学位途径，为工人提供先进的技术技能，以满足劳动力需求。留住：康涅狄格州西北部的制造业雇主很难留住住在该地区以外的员工。许多拥有适当技能的员工不想旅行或搬到农村CT，因此在接受培训后最终离开。该项目的重点是为已经生活在该州西北角的人提供在先进制造业中找到工作所需的技能和教育。继续教育和职业发展：现代制造业要求工人跟上技术。在职员工也需要技能才能获得晋升。这两点都需要制造商和学院之间建立牢固的合作伙伴关系。该项目加强了这种合作，并为员工提供了一条提升教育水平的途径。

As advanced manufacturing moves forward in the Nation, there is an increasing need to prepare a skilled, flexible, and innovative workforce. This project is developing an advanced manufacturing technician associate degree program that is designed to increase the number of skilled workers in the northwest corner of Connecticut (CT) and provide a pathway where students can pursue associate and bachelor degrees in manufacturing so they can advance their careers. The college is partnering with three school systems, the Northwest Connecticut Manufacturers Coalition (NCMC), and Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing (RCNGM). In addition, the college is a long-standing member of the Connecticut College of Technology (COT). As such, the college and its partners benefit from the best practices, curriculum, and articulations developed by the COT.The project is increasing the partnerships between higher education and industry by creating a manufacturing technology program and a career pathway that can be adopted by other high schools and community colleges especially those in rural areas, and by increasing the number of high school and community college students interested in pursuing careers in manufacturing.Surveys of the manufacturers in the northwest region helped to identify four industry-driven, workforce-based needs that are being addressed in this project:1. Recruitment: Recruiting a skilled manufacturing workforce requires raising awareness of career possibilities within advanced technology and manufacturing fields. This project is continuing with current outreach programs to junior high and high school students to inform future skilled workers. It is also exposing unemployed, underemployed, displaced, and incumbent workers to the necessary skill sets and career possibilities of manufacturing within northwestern CT.2. Education: A majority of manufacturers in advanced technological sectors nationwide indicate that they have a difficult time filling positions because applicants lack the necessary skills for the job. This project is developing a degree pathway that provides workers with advanced technology skills to meet workforce needs.3. Retention: Manufacturing employers in northwestern CT have difficulty retaining employees who live outside of the area. Many employees who have the appropriate skills do not want to travel or move to rural CT and therefore end up leaving after they are trained. This project is focusing on providing people who already live in the northwest corner of the state with the skills and education they need to obtain jobs in the advanced manufacturing sector.4. Continued education and career advancement: Modern manufacturing requires workers to keep up with technology. Incumbent workers also need skills for advancement. Both of these require a strong partnership between manufacturers and the college. This project strengthens that collaboration and provides workers with a pathway to advance their education.