Training Electric Vehicle Technicians to Accelerate Massachusetts' Automotive Future

汽车技术人员的职业领域正在迅速变化，美国目前正处于从传统内燃机汽车向混合动力汽车和电池电动汽车（EV）技术转型的过程中。最近一项针对马萨诸塞州汽车经销商和独立汽车维修机构的调查显示，他们都面临着混合动力和电动汽车技术培训人员短缺的问题。Mount w马萨诸塞社区学院的这个项目将通过为高级混合动力和电动汽车技术员开发一套新的混合动力和电动汽车课程，以满足该地区对电动汽车技术技术人员的新兴需求。在整个项目中，将招收40名学生参加这个新的电动汽车维修和保养学位和证书课程。该项目将培训教师，并为该项目提供混合动力和电动汽车培训设备。它还将开发一个新的最先进的行业知识课程，开发一个先验学习评估框架，并为在职工人提供工具。最后，项目团队将建立实习机会和雇主合作伙伴关系，以促进学生的参与，并为不同的学生群体制定招聘和保留策略。该项目有望为传统内燃机汽车技术人员项目提供新知识，使其与新兴的混合动力和电动汽车技术相结合。该项目还将为在职工人提供一个模式，以加速他们获得混合动力和电动汽车的证书或学位。最后，该项目将建立有关为混合动力和电动汽车技术人员领域创建高中学生管道的知识，并特别强调招募女性进入该领域。该项目的总体目标是创建一个行业支持的电动汽车维修和保养高级汽车学位和证书课程，以满足雇主对熟练、知识渊博、更多样化的电动汽车技术人员的需求。预计将有大约40名学生在三年内注册该证书和学位课程，其中女性学生和另外40名双录取高中学生增加。三名教员将在暑期学习期间接受混合动力和电动汽车技术方面的培训。新进入该领域的学生完成10门汽车课程，其中包含电动汽车和混合动力技术，将获得证书，只需要再上7门普通教育课程就可以获得副学士学位。或者，在职工人有先前的经验或完成先前的学习评估测试，将有可能获得多达七门核心课程的学分，以获得证书和/或副学士学位。业务和行业领导团队将通过规划混合动力和电动汽车维修和维护技术人员所需的技能和知识范围，为课程提供信息并丰富课程。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。

The automotive technician career field is changing rapidly, and the U.S. is currently in the middle of an industry transition from traditional combustion engine vehicles to those with hybrid and battery electric vehicle (EV) technologies. A recent survey of Massachusetts car dealers and independent automotive repair facilities have all indicated that they are facing a shortage of automotive technicians trained in hybrid and EV technology. This project from Mount Wachusett Community College will address an emerging regional demand for technicians skilled in EV technologies by developing a new Hybrid and EV curriculum for an Advanced Automotive Technician Hybrid and EV certificate and degree program. Throughout the project, 40 students will be recruited into this new degree and certificate program in the repair and maintenance of electric vehicles. The project will train faculty and provide the program with Hybrid and EV training equipment. It will also develop a new state-of the-art industry informed curriculum, develop a prior learning assessment framework, and tools for incumbent workers. Finally, the project team will build internship opportunities and employer partner relationships to foster student engagement, and institute a recruitment and retention strategy for a diverse group of students. The project is expected to generate new knowledge on how to augment a traditional combustion engine automotive technician program with emerging Hybrid and EV technologies. This project will also provide a model for engaging incumbent workers to accelerate their progress towards a certificate or degree in Hybrid and EV. Finally, the project will build knowledge about creating a high school student pipeline for the Hybrid and EV technician fields, with an additional special emphasis on recruiting females into the field. The overarching goal of the project is to create an industry supported advanced automotive degree and certificate program in the repair and maintenance of Electric Vehicles that meets employer’s needs for skilled, knowledgeable, and more diverse EV automotive technicians. Approximately 40 students are expected to enroll in this certificate and degree program over 3 years, with an increase of female students and an additional 40 dual enrolled high school students. Three faculty will be trained in Hybrid and EV technology during summer learning experiences. Students new to the field completing ten Automotive courses with EV and Hybrid technologies embedded in them, will earn the certificate, needing only another 7 general education classes to earn the Associate Degree. Alternatively, incumbent workers with prior experience or completion of a prior learning assessment test will potentially be able to receive credit for up to seven core courses to earn their certificate and/or Associates Degree. The Business and Industry Leadership Team will inform and enrich the curriculum by mapping out the scope of skills and knowledge essential for Hybrid and EV Automotive Repair and Maintenance technicians. 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.