Pivots: Chicagoland Partnership for Semiconductor and Microelectronics Experiential Learning

该项目回应了两个国家的迫切需要--依赖国外制造的计算部件引起的国家安全担忧，以及STEM劳动力中不发达和未充分利用的人才库的参与需要。该项目是一所大学、非营利性社区组织、一个国家实验室和行业之间的合作伙伴关系，旨在通过一系列有偿的体验式学习活动，通过重新培训工人，使来自代表性不足的少数群体的个人具备在芝加哥开始新的半导体和微电子行业职业所需的技能。该项目的成果包括在伊利诺伊州新兴和不断增长的半导体和微电子行业创造了一支多样化和具有竞争力的高科技劳动力队伍--该地区历史上非常适合工业生产，但长期受到全球化去工业化影响的挑战。半导体产业对经济竞争力和国家安全至关重要。通过在伊利诺伊州提供受过教育和准备就绪的劳动力，该项目通过在国内生产半导体和微电子产品，并通过他们在伊利诺伊州和中西部的制造地点的多样化，帮助改善国家安全。该项目有五个目标：提高少数族裔群体对当地半导体和微电子行业职业机会的认识，增加来自少数族裔群体的个人在美国半导体和微电子行业的参与，为在职成年人过渡到半导体和微电子制造业的新职业提供经验学习机会和文化响应支持，通过培养准备在半导体和微电子制造业工作的多元化国内劳动力，促进芝加哥地区在高科技领域的经济发展，并支持美国的国家安全利益。这些目标是通过教育经验的四阶段模式以及指导和支持计划来实现的。第一阶段是通过课堂/小型实验室环境中的实践活动提供半导体和微电子的基础知识；第二阶段是在国家实验室完成一个实验或项目；第三阶段是在半导体和微电子行业的雇主那里进行小型实习；第四阶段是参加招聘会和制定专业发展计划。该项目将通过产生有前景的做法来促进劳动力发展方面的知识，这些做法涉及重新培养来自代表性不足的少数群体的个人，以及他们进入微电子和半导体行业的职业生涯。该项目与由NSF TIP和EDU董事资助的NSF ExLENT计划保持一致，因为它寻求支持来自不同专业和教育背景的个人的体验式学习机会，以增加他们对新兴技术领域的兴趣和获得职业道路的机会。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The project responds to two national imperatives -- the national security concerns arising from the reliance on computing components manufactured abroad and the need for engagement of underdeveloped and underutilized pools of talent in the STEM workforce. The project is a partnership between a university, non-profit community organizations, a national laboratory and industry to prepare individuals from underrepresented minority groups with the skills necessary to start new careers in the semiconductor and microelectronics industry in Chicagoland by reskilling workers through a series of compensated experiential learning activities. The results of the project include the creation of a diverse and competitive high technology workforce in the emergent and growing semiconductor and microelectronics industry in Illinois -- a region historically well-suited for industrial production but long challenged by the effects of deindustrialization from globalization. The semiconductor industry is critical to economic competitiveness and national security. By supplying an educated and ready workforce in Illinois, the project helps to improve national security through the domestic production of semiconductors and microelectronics and through the diversification of the location of their manufacturing in Illinois and the Midwest.There are five goals of the project: increased awareness of career opportunities in the local semiconductor and microelectronics industry for individuals from underrepresented minority groups, increased participation of individuals from underrepresented minority groups in the U.S. semiconductor and microelectronics industry, provision of experiential learning opportunities and culturally responsive support for working adults to transition into new careers in semiconductor and microelectronics manufacturing , increased economic development of the Chicagoland region in the area of high technology and support of national security interests of the U.S. by developing a diverse domestic workforce prepared to work in semiconductor and microelectronics manufacturing. These goals are accomplished through a four-phase model of educational experiences along with a mentorship and support program. Phase 1 provides foundational knowledge of semiconductors and microelectronics through hands-on activities provided in classroom/small laboratory settings; Phase 2 is the completion of an experiment or project at a national laboratory; Phase 3 is a mini-internship at an employer in the semiconductor and microelectronics industry; and Phase 4 is participation in a job fair and developing a professional development plan. The project will advance the knowledge in workforce development by generating promising practices about reskilling individuals from underrepresented minority groups and their entry into careers in the microelectronics and semiconductor industry. This project aligns with the NSF ExLENT Program, funded by the NSF TIP and EDU Directorates, as it seeks to support experiential learning opportunities for individuals from diverse professional and educational backgrounds to increase their interest in, and their access to, career pathways in emerging technology fields.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.