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

正在进行的研究表明，美国的熟练贸易和技术工人以及焊接等专业领域的熟练贸易和技术工人明显短缺。普韦布洛社区学院（PCC）在科罗拉多南部进行的一项需求评估显示，由于地区技能差距，先进制造业21%的技术职位空缺。PCC的这个项目解决了对熟练专业人员的需求，专注于焊接教育，材料测试和相关行业的认证。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，通过美国焊接学会（AWS）和美国无损检测学会（ASNT）的资格认证，在焊接和焊接检测方面创建基于能力的途径。与该项目相关的教师将受益于专注于焊接和无损检测（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提供行业认可的证书。该项目的目标是增加5%的入学率和学生就业在行业相关的职业。该计划满足了区域行业的需求，并有助于劳动力的多样性，扩大了服务不足人群的参与。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方面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资格认证，以便在有记录的技能差距的职业中取得成功，如焊接和焊接检测。这将在区域雇主咨询委员会的帮助下完成，这些雇主在焊接技术方面具有突出的专业知识，重点是无损检测。 咨询委员会将与项目教师合作，确保相关技能在课堂上教授，并确保大学文凭得到地区行业的适当重视。学生将参加NDT课程，并从ASNT课程中获得输入，这将使他们为进入焊接行业的质量控制，质量保证和检查做好准备。据估计，每年将有超过300名学生有可能通过PCC课程获得相关行业证书的认证，从而使区域经济受益。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。

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.