Implementing the Mechanisms to Lessen the Talent Gap in Advanced Manufacturing

该项目旨在增加先进制造业的合格工人数量。首先，为了解决入门级劳动力与中学和社区大学毕业生之间日益扩大的技能差距，该项目将开发为期一年的计算机数控证书课程。第二，项目工作人员将为高中学生和教师举办教育研讨会，以帮助消除制造业作为非技术职业道路的神话。这些活动预计将增加训练有素的精密机械师的管道，他们可以解决当今制造环境中日益复杂的技术现实。满足这一需求将有助于美国制造企业在全球环境中保持竞争力。该项目将通过发展教育机会，培养熟练的技术劳动力，使个人受益。该项目将为制造业提供证据，说明可以成功消除先进制造业常见神话的战略。该项目将包括五项主要活动。首先是注意课程开发，课程修订，以及CNC证书，AAS机床技术和自动化制造技术课程与行业需求之间的一致性。其次是重点收购多轴加工、三坐标测量机和增材制造领域的高水平设备。第三是提供关于新设备的专业发展/教员培训。第四是审查学徒方案，以促进酌情授予大学学分。第五，致力于以高中教师、辅导员、高中生、在职工人和归国成年人为重点的招聘活动。一项研究将创造新的知识，关于教师实习的有效性和一个学生研讨会上改变参与者对该领域的看法。项目评估将检查宾夕法尼亚大学的行业关系，课程开发，新设备的使用和招聘活动的有效性和影响。该项目还将评估预期学习成果是否符合学生和雇主的需求。项目活动的主要受众是社区学院的证书级和副学士级学生;高中教师，指导顾问和学生;和社区学院的教师。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。

This project seeks to increase the number of qualified workers in advanced manufacturing. First, to combat the growing skills gap between the entry-level workforce and graduates of secondary school and community colleges, the project will develop a one-year certificate program in Computer Numerical Control. Second, project staff will deliver educational symposiums to high school students and teachers to help dispel the myths of manufacturing as a non-technical career path. These activities are expected to increase the pipeline of trained precision machinists who can tackle the growing technologically complex realities of today's manufacturing environment. Meeting this demand will help U.S. manufacturing companies remain competitive in a global environment. The project will benefit individuals by developing educational opportunities that lead to a skilled technical workforce. The project will provide evidence to the manufacturing industry on strategies that can be successful in dispelling common myths in advanced manufacturing. The project will feature five principal activities. First is attention to curriculum development, course revisions, and alignment between the CNC certificate, AAS programs in Machine Tool Technology and Automated Manufacturing Technology, and industry needs. Second is a focus on high-level equipment acquisition in the areas of multi-axis machining, coordinate measuring machines, and additive manufacturing. Third is provision of professional development/faculty training on new equipment. Fourth is the examination of apprenticeship programs to facilitate the awarding of college credit where appropriate. Fifth is a commitment to recruitment activities that focus on high school teachers, guidance counselors, high school students, incumbent workers, and returning adults. A research study will create new knowledge regarding the effectiveness of teacher externships and a student symposium on changing participant perceptions of the field. The project evaluation will examine the effectiveness and impact of Penn College's industry relationships, curriculum development, use of new equipment, and recruitment activities. The project will also evaluate the alignment of the intended learning outcomes with the needs of students and employers. The primary audiences for project activities are certificate-level and associate degree-level community college students; high school teachers, guidance counselors, and students; and community college faculty. 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.