Advancing Career and Technical Skills: Through the science of material, nondestructive testing and welding education.

正在进行的研究表明，在美国，在焊接等专业领域，熟练的贸易和技术工人明显短缺。普韦布洛社区学院（PCC）在南科罗拉多州进行的一项需求评估显示，由于地区技能差距，先进制造业中有21%的技术职位空缺。PCC的这个项目满足了对熟练专业人员的需求，重点是焊接教育、材料测试和相关的行业认证。在为期三年的项目期间，PCC的目标是使课程与行业标准保持一致，通过与美国焊接学会（AWS）和美国无损检测学会（ASNT）资格保持一致，创建基于能力的焊接和焊接检测途径。与该项目相关的教师将受益于焊接和无损检测（NDT）教育的专业发展机会。这项培训将使教师和工作人员为学生准备行业认可的证书。该项目的目标是在与工业相关的职业中增加5%的入学率和学生就业率。该倡议满足了区域工业需求，促进了劳动力多样性，扩大了服务不足人口的参与。该项目符合PCC的使命，即推进技术教育，同时为学生在焊接和无损检测领域的高需求职业做好准备。该项目的总体目标是为学生提供必要的行业技能和证书，以便在焊接和焊接检查等有记录的技能差距的职业生涯中取得成功。这将在一个由区域雇主组成的咨询委员会的帮助下完成，该委员会具有焊接技术方面的专业知识，重点是无损检测。咨询委员会将与项目教师合作，确保在课堂上教授相关技能，并确保大学文凭得到地区行业的适当重视。学生将学习无损检测课程，并学习ASNT课程，这将为他们进入焊接行业的质量控制、质量保证和检验做好准备。据估计，每年将有300多名学生通过PCC课程获得相关行业证书的认证，从而使地区经济受益。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。

Ongoing research has demonstrated that there is a notable shortage of skilled trade and technical workers in the United States, and in specialty areas such as welding. A needs assessment conducted in Southern Colorado by Pueblo Community College (PCC) revealed that 21% of skilled positions in advanced manufacturing are unfilled due to a regional skills gap. This project at PCC addresses the demand for skilled professionals, focusing on welding education, materials testing, and pertinent industry focused certifications. Over the three-year project period PCC aims to align curriculum with industry standards, creating competency-based pathways in both welding and welding inspection through aligned American Welding Society (AWS) and American Society of Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) qualifications. Faculty associated with the project will benefit from professional development opportunities focusing on welding and nondestructive Testing (NDT) education. This training will enable faculty and staff to prepare students for industry recognized credentials. The project targets a 5% increase in enrollment and student employment in industry-related careers. The initiative meets regional industry needs, and contributes to workforce diversity, broadening participation amongst underserved populations. This project aligns with PCC's mission to advance technical education while preparing students for high-demand careers in welding and nondestructive testing.The overall goal of the project is to prepare students with the necessary industry skills and credentialing to succeed in careers with a documented skills gap such as welding and welding inspection. This will be accomplished with the help of an advisory board of regional employers with demonstrated expertise in welding technology with an emphasis on NDT. The advisory committee will work with program faculty to ensure that relevant skills are being taught in the classroom, and that college credentials are appropriately valued by regional industry. Students will be taking courses in NDT with input from the ASNT curriculum, which will prepare them to enter the welding industry in quality control, quality assurance and inspection. It is estimated that more than 300 students a year will have the potential to be certified with relevant industry credentials through the PCC course offerings, benefitting the regional economy. 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.