Training Electric Vehicle Technicians to Accelerate Massachusetts' Automotive Future

汽车技术人员的职业领域正在迅速发生变化，美国目前正处于从传统内燃机汽车向混合动力和电池电动汽车（EV）技术过渡的行业中。最近对马萨诸塞州汽车经销商和独立汽车维修设施的调查都表明，他们正面临着混合动力和电动汽车技术培训的汽车技术人员短缺。来自Mount Wett Community College的这个项目将通过为高级汽车技术员混合动力和电动汽车证书和学位课程开发新的混合动力和电动汽车课程，来满足新兴地区对电动汽车技术熟练技术人员的需求。在整个项目中，40名学生将被招募到这个新的学位和证书课程，在电动汽车的维修和维护。该项目将培训教师，并为该项目提供混合动力和电动汽车培训设备。它还将开发一个新的最先进的行业知情课程，开发一个事先学习评估框架，并为在职工人的工具。最后，项目团队将建立实习机会和雇主合作伙伴关系，以促进学生的参与，并为不同的学生群体制定招聘和保留战略。该项目预计将产生新的知识，如何增加传统的内燃机汽车技术人员计划与新兴的混合动力和电动汽车技术。该项目还将提供一个模型，让在职工人加快他们在混合动力和电动汽车方面的证书或学位的进展。最后，该项目将建立关于为混合动力和电动汽车技术人员领域创建高中生管道的知识，并特别强调招募女性进入该领域。该项目的总体目标是创建一个行业支持的电动汽车维修和维护高级汽车学位和证书课程，以满足雇主对熟练，知识渊博和更多样化的电动汽车技术人员的需求。预计在三年内将有大约40名学生报名参加这一证书和学位课程，女学生人数将有所增加，另外还有40名双学位高中学生。三名教师将在夏季学习期间接受混合动力和电动汽车技术的培训。新到该领域的学生完成十门嵌入电动汽车和混合动力技术的汽车课程，将获得证书，只需另外7门普通教育课程即可获得副学士学位。或者，具有先前经验或完成先前学习评估测试的在职工人将有可能获得最多七门核心课程的学分，以获得证书和/或副学士学位。商业和工业领导团队将通过制定混合动力和电动汽车维修和维护技术人员所需的技能和知识范围来丰富课程。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。

The automotive technician career field is changing rapidly, and the U.S. is currently in the middle of an industry transition from traditional combustion engine vehicles to those with hybrid and battery electric vehicle (EV) technologies. A recent survey of Massachusetts car dealers and independent automotive repair facilities have all indicated that they are facing a shortage of automotive technicians trained in hybrid and EV technology. This project from Mount Wachusett Community College will address an emerging regional demand for technicians skilled in EV technologies by developing a new Hybrid and EV curriculum for an Advanced Automotive Technician Hybrid and EV certificate and degree program. Throughout the project, 40 students will be recruited into this new degree and certificate program in the repair and maintenance of electric vehicles. The project will train faculty and provide the program with Hybrid and EV training equipment. It will also develop a new state-of the-art industry informed curriculum, develop a prior learning assessment framework, and tools for incumbent workers. Finally, the project team will build internship opportunities and employer partner relationships to foster student engagement, and institute a recruitment and retention strategy for a diverse group of students. The project is expected to generate new knowledge on how to augment a traditional combustion engine automotive technician program with emerging Hybrid and EV technologies. This project will also provide a model for engaging incumbent workers to accelerate their progress towards a certificate or degree in Hybrid and EV. Finally, the project will build knowledge about creating a high school student pipeline for the Hybrid and EV technician fields, with an additional special emphasis on recruiting females into the field. The overarching goal of the project is to create an industry supported advanced automotive degree and certificate program in the repair and maintenance of Electric Vehicles that meets employer’s needs for skilled, knowledgeable, and more diverse EV automotive technicians. Approximately 40 students are expected to enroll in this certificate and degree program over 3 years, with an increase of female students and an additional 40 dual enrolled high school students. Three faculty will be trained in Hybrid and EV technology during summer learning experiences. Students new to the field completing ten Automotive courses with EV and Hybrid technologies embedded in them, will earn the certificate, needing only another 7 general education classes to earn the Associate Degree. Alternatively, incumbent workers with prior experience or completion of a prior learning assessment test will potentially be able to receive credit for up to seven core courses to earn their certificate and/or Associates Degree. The Business and Industry Leadership Team will inform and enrich the curriculum by mapping out the scope of skills and knowledge essential for Hybrid and EV Automotive Repair and Maintenance technicians. 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.