Training Industrial Technicians for Today and Tomorrow

随着制造业继续向全面自动化的快速发展，多种挑战已经浮出水面。从地区来看，这些挑战包括新兴的和未满足的行业对多工艺技术熟练技术人员的需求，以及招聘能力和对该领域的渴望都不足的个人。自2022年5月以来，对技术人员的需求持续增长，发布了206个工作岗位，在国家公园社区学院（NPCC）服务的地区，平均每月发布13个工作岗位。该项目将填补目前在先进制造业中存在的就业缺口，同时也为学生准备目前空缺或尚未创建的职位。在雇主通过商业和行业领导团队（BILT）的指导下，该项目将创建可堆叠的证书和多个学位路径。这包括为高中生提供最初通过正规教育项目进入该领域的机会，然后继续和/或以其他方式在同一教育领域招收新的社区大学学生，最后将在职工人整合到相同的技能增强计划中。通过这个项目，至少将招募20名学生作为高中生参加，以获得证书，并寻求有助于他们获得副学士学位的机会。全国人大附近有三个机会区，平均43%的居民生活在贫困中。根据美国人口普查局的数据，在全国人大所在的县，只有32%的18-24岁的居民完成了一定程度的高等教育，而美国的平均水平为55%。由于缺乏高等教育程度与生活在贫困中的家庭数量密切相关，该项目通过重点招收来自这些机会地区的学生，提供了改善这些状况的潜力。该项目的目标是更新和扩展当前的工业技术计划，使其更符合工业需求。通过将相关新兴技术与制造业相结合的行业认证和实验室升级，将解决和缓解所确定的大多数挑战。此外，教师的专业发展对这些步骤的整体成功至关重要。最后，该项目还将创造机会，通过以实习、预学徒和学徒计划的形式创造基于工作的学习机会，将其他交付模式纳入其中。除了将新创建的证书添加到中学部门，从而进一步提高高中生的知识水平外，应用科学副学士（AAS）通用技术学位的学生还可以获得多个专业和“止点”。禁止点包括可用于获得学位的学术熟练证书（CPs）和技术证书（TC）。本项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划侧重于为推动国家和地区经济发展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。

As manufacturing continues its rapid evolution towards total automation, multiple challenges have surfaced. Regionally, these challenges include emerging and unmet industry demand for technicians skilled in multi-craft technologies, with recruitment falling short for individuals with both the aptitude and desire for the field. The demand for technicians continues to grow with 206 job postings since May 2022 with an average monthly posting of 13 jobs within the area served by National Park Community College (NPCC). This project will fill the employment gaps that currently exist in advanced manufacturing while also preparing students for positions currently unfilled or yet to be created. With guidance from employers through a Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) this project will create stackable credentials and multiple degree paths. These include opportunities for high school students to be introduced to the field initially through a formal education program, then to continue as and/or otherwise enroll new community college students in the same educational field, and finally to integrate incumbent workers in the same skills enhancements programming. Through this project, at least 20 students will be recruited to participate as high school students to earn certifications and pursue opportunities that can help them attain an associate degree. There are three opportunity zones in the vicinity of NPCC where on average 43% of residents live in poverty. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 32% of residents between the ages of 18-24 in the county where NPCC is located have completed some level of postsecondary education compared to the US average of 55%. Since the lack of postsecondary educational attainment is strongly correlated with of families living in poverty, this project offers the potential to ameliorate these conditions by focusing on recruitment of students from these opportunity zones.The goal of the project is to update and expand the current Industrial Technology program to be more aligned with industry needs. The majority of the challenges identified will be addressed and mitigated with the inclusion of industry credentialing and laboratory upgrades that integrate relevant, emerging technologies with the manufacturing industry. Additionally, faculty professional development will be critical in the overall success of these steps. Lastly, this project will also create the opportunity to incorporate alternate delivery modes by creating work-based learning opportunities in the form of internships, pre-apprenticeship, and apprenticeship programs. In addition to adding newly created credentials into the secondary school sector, thus further advancing the knowledge of high school students, multiple concentrations and “stop out points” will be available for students enrolled in the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) General Technology Degree. Stop out points include academic Certificates of Proficiency (CPs) and a Technical Certificate (TC) that can be applied towards degree attainment. 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 and region’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.