HVAC Fast Track: Establishing A Competency-Based HVAC/R Apprenticeship Program

美国供暖、通风、空调和制冷（HVAC/R）行业的价值预计将从2019年的265亿美元增加到2030年的358亿美元。据预测，从2016年到2026年的10年期间，全国暖通空调/R工作岗位将增长15%。该项目将设计一个加速HVAC/R学徒计划，以支持俄亥俄州东北部的HVAC/R行业。该计划将根据区域行业合作伙伴关于学徒制设计和实施的意见作出回应。预计基于能力的学徒模式将允许学徒在三年内完成项目，而不是传统的基于时间的学徒模式的五年，因为学徒将根据能力进行评估，而不是跟踪完成时间。学徒制将提供一个指导途径，在参与者学习的同时支付报酬，并为学徒提供成功完成课程后获得熟练工证书的机会。项目团队将开发一个国家批准的、加速的、基于能力的HVAC/R学徒计划，以帮助满足HVAC/R行业的就业需求，并为学生提供必要的现场经验，使他们能够快速从入门级技术人员的角色过渡到经过熟练认证的HVAC/R职位。项目目标包括：1)在斯塔克州立学院建立一个国家批准的、基于能力的HVAC/R注册学徒计划；2)招收学员，重点招收老学员和高中生/应届毕业生；3)保留至少80%的学员/学徒；4)在完成加速学徒期后，为学生准备HVAC/R熟练工认证；5)评估项目成果并广泛分享最佳实践以供复制。通过与区域暖通空调行业合作伙伴、当地公立学区、社区退伍军人机构和地区劳动力发展机构合作，该项目将招募学徒进入暖通空调行业高薪、高需求的职业道路。以能力为基础的学徒模式可以适用于其他工业领域。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。

The United States heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) industry is projected to see an increase in value from $26.5 billion in 2019 to $35.8 billion in 2030. It is projected that over the 10-year period from 2016-2026, HVAC/R jobs nationally will grow 15%. This project will design an accelerated HVAC/R apprenticeship program to support the HVAC/R industry in Northeast Ohio. The program will be responsive to input from regional industry partners regarding the design and implementation of the apprenticeship. It is expected that the competency-based apprenticeship model will allow apprentices to complete the program in three years rather than the five years for a traditional, time-based apprenticeship as apprentices will be assessed for competencies rather than tracked for completion of hours. The apprenticeship will provide a guided pathway that pays participants while they learn and offers apprentices the opportunity to earn a Journeyman credential upon successful completion of the program.The project team will develop a state-approved, accelerated, competency-based, HVAC/R apprenticeship program to help meet employment demand in the HVAC/R industry and provide students the field experience necessary to quickly move from an entry-level technician role to a Journeyman-certified HVAC/R position. Project objectives include: 1) establish a state-approved, competency-based HVAC/R registered apprenticeship program at Stark State College; 2) enroll students into the apprenticeship with a focus on veteran students and high school students/recent graduates; 3) retain at least 80% of students/apprentices enrolled in the program; 4) prepare students for HVAC/R Journeyman certification upon completion of the accelerated apprenticeship; and 5) evaluate project outcomes and widely share best practices for replication purposes. By working with regional HVAC/R industry partners, local public school districts, community veterans agencies, and area workforce development agencies, the project will recruit apprentices into a career pathway leading to well-paying, high-demand occupations in the HVAC/R sector. The model of a competency-based apprenticeship may be adapted for other industry areas. 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.