Preparing a New Workforce for a Sustainable Economy

这个项目正在创建一个示范替代能源证书项目，从而产生一个新的工业技术应用科学副学士学位和一个新的风能技术人员证书项目。该项目正在建立通往可再生能源领域技术工作的职业道路。可再生能源证书的具体需求正在确定，计划中的社区技术中心将专门用于该项目所需的实验室区域。工业技术的A.A.S.学位通过提供从工业相关证书到A.A.S.学位再到学士学位的明确职业道路，满足了学生和在职工人的需求。新的A.A.S.学位通过鼓励获得技术证书的学生和在职工人继续接受能为工人和雇主带来最大利益的额外教育/培训，满足了行业的需求。这种额外的教育侧重于通常被称为“软技能”的领域，例如沟通、团队合作和批判性思维。工业工作场所对软技能的需求得到了广泛的认可，并在许多报告中得到了证明。

This project is creating a model alternative energy certificate program, that leads to a new Associate of Applied Sciences degree in industrial technology and a new certificate program for wind energy technicians. The project is establishing career pathways to technical work in the renewable energy fields. The specific needs for a renewable energy certificate are being identified, and space in the planned Community Technology Center is to be devoted to the laboratory areas needed for the program. The A.A.S. degree in industrial technology is meeting the needs of students and incumbent workers by providing a clear career pathway from an industry-related certificate to an A.A.S. degree and then to a baccalaureate degree. The new A.A.S. degree is meeting the needs of industry by encouraging students and incumbent workers who earn a technical certificate to pursue the additional education/training that offers the most benefits to the worker and the employer. That additional education focuses on areas often referred to as "soft skills", for example, communication, teamwork and critical thinking. The need for soft skills in the industry workplace is widely recognized and has been documented in a number of reports.