Skilled Technical Education & Experiential Learning

2014年1月，佐治亚州州长宣布了高需求职业倡议，该倡议召集了私营部门、格鲁吉亚的高等教育利益相关者和格鲁吉亚经济发展部之间的讨论，以探索格鲁吉亚未来的就业需求。从全州的这些讨论中，人们重新认识到，行业增长和扩张迫切需要一支训练有素、受过良好教育的劳动力。由于奥尔巴尼技术学院(ATC)是负责教育佐治亚州劳动力的机构之一，它有义务帮助规划和提供满足行业需求的教育项目。该项目将支持改革，以提高ATC土木工程、电气和计算机以及机电工程技术计划在为工业培养高技能技术工人方面的有效性。该项目将满足对熟练技术人员和多样化劳动力日益增长的需求。作为一个以黑人为主的机构，ATC有可能增加来自一个在许多技术劳动力领域代表性不足的群体的个人的参与。ATC与行业合作伙伴合作，旨在培养能够满足这些合作伙伴对高技能员工的需求的学生。该行业将协助教师安排学生实习和评估学生项目。基于项目的学习和带薪实习将被整合到三个工程技术课程中：1)土木工程技术；2)电气和计算机技术(电信)；3)机电工程技术。实习将使学生能够将课堂知识应用于实践经验。此外，学生们将在学习计划的早期从事现实世界的项目。这一战略预计将营造一种氛围，让他们能够看到并实现“最终目标”。该项目将实现以下目标：(1)提高土木工程、电信和机电工程技术专业的入学率、留校率和就业率；(2)加强与当地雇主的现有伙伴关系。该项目还将传播到中学项目“准备好了就继续前进”和ATC工程预备学院。这些计划的学生将被支持完成高中学业，继续他们的高等教育，并与当地雇主互动，这些雇主将寻求填补高需求的技术员职位。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。

In January 2014, Georgia's governor announced the High Demand Career Initiative, which convened discussions between the private sector, Georgia's postsecondary stakeholders, and Georgia's Department of Economic Development to explore Georgia's future job needs. From these discussions across the state, a renewed appreciation emerged of the critical need for a well-trained and educated workforce for industry growth and expansion. Because Albany Technical College (ATC) is one of the institutions responsible for educating Georgia's workforce, it is obligated to help plan and deliver educational programs that meet industry needs. This project will support changes to increase the effectiveness of the ATC Civil, Electrical and Computer, and Electromechanical Engineering Technology programs in educating highly skilled technical workers for industry.This project will address the growing demand for skilled technicians and a diversified labor force. As a Predominately Black Institution, ATC has the potential to increase the participation of individuals from a group that has been underrepresented in many technical workforce areas. Working with industry partners, ATC aims to educate students who can meet the demands of these partners for highly skilled employees. Industry will assist faculty in placing students in internships and in evaluating student projects. Project-Based Learning and paid internships will be integrated into three engineering technology programs: 1) Civil Engineering Technology; 2) Electrical and Computer Technology (Telecommunications); and 3) Electromechanical Engineering Technology. The internships will enable students to apply classroom knowledge to the hands-on experiences. In addition, students will work on real-world projects early in their program of study. This strategy is expected to foster a climate in which they can see and achieve the "end goal." The project will address the following goals: (1) Increase enrollment, retention, and placement rates for Civil, Telecommunications, and Electromechanical Engineering Technology programs and (2) Strengthen existing partnerships with local employers. The project will also be disseminated to the secondary school program, "Move On When Ready," and the ATC Engineering Prep Academy. Students in these programs will be supported to complete high school, continue their post-secondary education, and interact with local employers who will be looking to fill high demand technician positions.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.