Alamo Institute for Materials (micro, bio, nano) - Technology (AIM-TEC)

纳米技术正在从根本上改变工业世界，给交通、航空航天、生物技术、医药和制造业带来革命性的变化。德克萨斯州拥有美国第四多家纳米技术公司和机构，拥有66家与纳米技术相关的公司和50个与纳米科学相关的研究和社区组织。拟议中的阿拉莫材料技术研究所(AIMTEC)项目满足了德克萨斯州高等教育协调委员会在最近的“纳米技术预测”报告中确定的该州在纳米技术方面的迫切劳动力发展需求。西北维斯塔学院的阿拉莫材料技术研究所(AIM-TEC)将创建一个自我维持和可复制的区域劳动力模式，利用当地资源和合作伙伴关系，满足行业对高质量先进材料技术人员教育和培训的迫切需求。AIM-TEC将作为以下方面的区域枢纽：1)支持具备微纳生物技术技能的下一代技术人员的教育准备；2)通过创新的招生和留学生战略，加强从高中到大学、大学到劳动力和/或高等教育的过渡点；3)提高社区对纳米技术以及现有教育和职业道路的认识。AIM-TEC将展示两年制机构创造性地建立和领导一个由7-12年制机构、四年制机构、NSF中心和行业合作伙伴组成的互联网络的有效方式，以满足地区纳米技术行业的劳动力需求。通过与国家和区域教育和行业伙伴的合作，AIM-TEC将建立微型生物纳米技术课程，培养具有与行业相关的技术能力的毕业生。将开发一个高级材料技术应用科学(AAS)学分60学分的协会，其中嵌入纳米生物技术和半导体技术的两个可堆叠的一级证书选项。这些课程改革与学生体验式学习机会相结合，将使学生技能多样化，从而为进入纳米技术支持的行业创造多条职业道路。此外，AIM-TEC将试行双学分课程，以促进高中毕业生无缝过渡到高等教育机构。AIM-TEC项目将通过在为西班牙裔服务的机构西北维斯塔学院的支持性环境中提供纳米技术培训、研究机会和职业发展活动，增加STEM领域代表性不足的个人的参与。

Nanotechnology is fundamentally changing the industrial world revolutionizing transportation, aerospace, biotechnology, medicine and manufacturing. The state of Texas has the fourth largest number of nanotechnology companies and institutions in the U.S. with over 66 nanotechnology-related companies and 50 nanoscience-related research and community organizations. The proposed Alamo Institute for Materials Technology (AIMTEC) project addresses the state's urgent workforce development needs in nanotechnology as identified by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in its recent "Nanotechnology Forecast" report.The Alamo Institute for Materials Technology (AIM-TEC) at Northwest Vista College will create a self-sustaining and replicable regional workforce model that leverages local resources and partnerships to address the critical need by industry for quality technician education and training in advanced materials technology. AIM-TEC will act as a regional hub for 1) supporting the educational preparation of next generation technicians with skills in micro-nano-bio technologies; 2) strengthening the transition points from high school to college, and college to workforce and/or advanced education through innovative student recruitment and retention strategies; 3) increasing community awareness of nanotechnology and available educational and career pathways. AIM-TEC will demonstrate effective ways that two-year institutions can creatively establish and lead an interconnected network of 7-12, 4-year institutions, NSF Centers, and industry partners to meet regional nanotechnology industry workforce needs. Through collaboration with national and regional educational and industry partners, AIM-TEC will establish micro-bio-nanotechnology curricula to produce graduates with industry-relevant technical competencies. A sixty-credit Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Advanced Materials Technology embedded with two stackable Level-1 certificate options in Nano-biotechnology and Semiconductor technology will be developed. These curricular changes integrated with student experiential learning opportunities will diversify student skill sets, thereby creating multiple career pathways into nanotechnology-enabled industries. Additionally, AIM-TEC will pilot dual credit courses that will facilitate seamless transition of high school graduates to postsecondary educational institutions. The AIM-TEC project will increase the participation of underrepresented individuals in STEM fields by providing nanotechnology training, research opportunities and career development activities in a supportive environment at Northwest Vista College, a Hispanic-serving Institution.