Collaborative Research: Revolutionizing Electric Vehicle Education

美国正面临着对新一代技术人才的前所未有的需求，以应对国际竞争，以获得由电动汽车（EV），自动驾驶汽车（AV）以及与软件驱动汽车相关的网络安全驱动的多样化，最新技能的汽车劳动力。内燃机正在逐步淘汰并被电力取代，为自动驾驶和电动汽车技术的需求增加奠定了基础。这种不断变化的技术环境和随之而来的全球竞争需要在汽车开发的各个层面进行转型-从电动汽车设计师到电动汽车技术人员。对熟练的电动汽车制造和服务行业技术人员的需求是巨大的，预计将以需求超过数量的速度增长。劳动力老龄化，目前劳动力缺乏先进的STEM技能，以及经济扩张的加剧都是造成这一赤字的因素。教育工作者和雇主之间必须进行合作，以促进对劳动力挑战和机遇的理解。为了满足这一需求，一个由两年制高等教育机构（IHE）、其他ATE项目和中心以及行业组成的学院驱动的联盟将通过创新的混合虚拟和增强现实（VR/AR）教育方法，合作解决电动汽车（EV）制造和服务行业的下一代跨学科劳动力需求。联盟项目合作伙伴包括：沃尔沃、戴姆勒、宝马、Proterra、博世、杜克能源、米其林、Upstate SC联盟、南卡罗来纳州制造业扩展合作伙伴关系、南卡罗来纳州技术学院系统、国家自主技术中心、国家网络安全培训和教育中心、区域核教育中心以及西北工程和车辆技术交易所。该项目的目标将满足两年制大学生和在职工人当前和未来的电动汽车制造和服务行业的需求。目标1：确定当前和未来的教育和劳动力需求所需的运输行业从传统燃料的迁移到电池供电的电动汽车。目标2：创建，部署和评估一个创新的，创造性的，知情的跨学科电动汽车制造和服务行业技术人员教育混合课程，结合课堂，虚拟和体验式学习。将实施战略，以支持参与和坚持电动汽车制造和服务技术人员教育的学生，包括那些谁是农村，退伍军人，以及那些历史上在干的职业道路服务不足。目标3：发展和/或加强与联盟成员、ATE项目和中心以及行业的合作伙伴关系，以利用和分享专业知识和最佳实践，在各领域和机构内以及跨领域和机构实现最大影响和可持续性。目标4：提供专业发展，解决新的电动汽车课程，以确保广泛使用，传播和教师领导力的发展。该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划侧重于推动国家经济的先进技术领域的技术人员的教育。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The United States is facing an unprecedented need for a new generation of technological talent to respond to international competition for an automotive workforce with diverse, up-to-date skill sets driven by electric vehicles (EV), autonomous vehicles (AV), and the cybersecurity associated with software-driven vehicles. The internal combustion engine is being phased out and replaced by electricity, setting the stage for an increased demand for autonomous and EV technologies. This changing technological climate and the resultant concurrent global competition necessitate transformation at every level of automotive development – from EV designers to EV technicians. The demand for skilled EV manufacturing and service industry technicians is substantial and is predicted to increase at a rate where demand outpaces quantity. Workers aging out of the workforce, the lack of advanced STEM skills for those currently in the workforce, and increased economic expansion are contributing factors to this deficit. Collaboration among educators and employers must occur to advance the understanding of workforce challenges and opportunities. To meet the need, a faculty-driven consortium of two-year Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), other ATE projects and centers, and industry will collaborate to address the next generation cross-disciplinary workforce needs of the Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturing and service industry through an innovative hybrid virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) education approach. The consortium project partners include: Volvo, Daimler, BMW, Proterra, Bosch, Duke Energy, Michelin, the Upstate SC Alliance, the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the South Carolina Technical College System, the National Center for Autonomous Technologies, the National Cybersecurity Training and Education Center, the Regional Center for Nuclear Education, and the Northwest Engineering and Vehicle Technology Exchange. The project goals will address current and future EV manufacturing and service industry needs for both two-year college students and incumbent workers. Goal 1: Identify current and future education and workforce needs required by the migration of the transportation industry from traditional fuels to battery-powered electric vehicles. Goal 2: Create, deploy, and assess an innovative, creative, and informed cross- disciplinary EV manufacturing and service industry technician education hybrid curricula incorporating classroom, virtual, and experiential learning. Strategies will be implemented to support participation and persistence in EV manufacturing and service technician education for students including those who are rural, veterans, and those historically underserved in STEM career pathways. Goal 3: Develop and/or strengthen partnerships with consortium members, ATE projects and centers, and industry to leverage and share expertise and best practices for maximum impact and sustainability within and across fields and institutions. Goal 4: Provide professional development addressing the new EV curricula to ensure widespread use, dissemination, and faculty leadership development. 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.