Pathways to Diesel Technology Careers for High School and Community College Students

在南卡罗来纳州，柴油机械行业预计将在2014年至2024年间增长13%。这一增长意味着全州每年约有6900个职位空缺。例如，南卡罗来纳州狄龙市新建的国际内河航运港口对熟练的柴油技术人员产生了迫切的需求。为了解决这一区域劳动力缺口，该项目将开发新的柴油机械课程，将最佳实践和现有资源纳入双招生、可叠加证书、STEM教育、技术技能培训、行业合作伙伴关系、职业意识和就业技能发展。该项目还将侧重于为农村和服务不足的学生提供这种职业准备。通过为农村高中学生在高增长技术领域的职业生涯做好准备，该项目有可能推进创新方法，以满足国家不断变化的就业需求。该项目的研究结果将在南卡罗来纳传播，并可作为对美国农村技术人员教育感兴趣的学习社区的原型模型。该项目将为柴油技术项目开发一种模式，旨在培养具有最先进教育和未来成功所需技能的高技能技术人员。该项目将使一所技术学院能够与农村学区和行业合作伙伴合作，通过以下方式最大限度地减少招收和留住农村学生的障碍：1)发展职业道路；2)启动新批准和认证的柴油职业学位课程；3)增加该地区柴油技术行业合格潜在员工的供应。在这项工作中，学院将利用其交互式视频会议系统，提供与农村高中教室和实验室的虚拟连接。高中九年级的学生将参加职业意识模块、行业参观，并开始双招生stem计算机课程。选择柴油技术途径的十年级学生将继续学习相关技术的在线、混合和课堂课程。三年级和四年级学生将继续他们的双重入学，并在高中毕业前完成至少一项国家汽车服务卓越研究所认证。学生将能够过渡到学院的柴油技术专业，并参与以工作为基础的学习和行业学徒来完成他们的学位。项目完成者将准备与行业合作伙伴一起工作，从而为国家的熟练技术劳动力做出贡献。该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划侧重于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

In South Carolina, the diesel mechanics industry is expected to grow 13% between 2014 and 2024. This growth represents an estimated 6,900 annual job openings throughout the state. For example, the new international inland shipping port in Dillon, South Carolina, has created an urgent demand for skilled diesel technicians. To address this regional workforce gap, the project will develop a new diesel mechanics curriculum that incorporates best practices and existing resources in dual enrollment, stackable credentials, STEM education, technical skill training, industry partnerships, career awareness, and employability skills development. This project will also focus on providing this career preparation to rural and underserved students. By preparing rural high school students for careers in high-growth technical fields, the project has the potential to advance innovative methods for meeting the nation's changing employment needs. Findings from this project will be disseminated throughout South Carolina and may serve as a prototype model for learning communities interested in rural technician education throughout the United States.This project will develop a model for diesel technology programs intended to produce highly skilled technicians who have a state-of-the art education and the skillset required for a successful future. This project will enable the collaboration of a technical college with rural school districts and industry partners to minimize barriers for the recruitment and retention of rural students by: 1) developing career pathways; 2) launching a newly approved and accredited diesel careers degree program; and 3) increasing the supply of qualified potential employees for the region's diesel technologies industries. In this effort, the college will leverage its interactive videoconferencing systems to provide virtual connections with rural high school classrooms and laboratories. High school ninth grade students will participate in career awareness modules, industry tours, and start dual enrollment STEM-focused computer courses. Tenth grade students selecting the diesel technology pathways will continue with online, hybrid, and classroom courses in relevant technology. Juniors and seniors will continue their dual enrollment and complete at least one National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence certification by high school graduation. Students will be able to transition to the College's Diesel Technology major and participate in work-based learning and industry apprenticeships to complete their degree. Program completers will be ready for work with industry partners, thus contributing to the nation's skilled technical workforce. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.