This $611,234 federal project grant awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the STEM Education (formerly Education and Human Resources) program (CFDA 47.076) will enable South Central College in Minnesota to expand its Independent Mechatronics Education Curriculum (IMEC) program. The project aims to address the growing regional demand for skilled mechatronics technicians by increasing access to this technical education and creating career pathways, particularly in rural and underserved communities including the Native American population. Key activities include enhancing the IMEC curriculum to incorporate emerging Industry 4.0 and Internet of Things technologies, implementing a capstone troubleshooting experience between college and high school partners, and providing professional development workshops for faculty. The project intends to ultimately increase the number of work-ready mechatronics technicians entering the regional workforce. No sub-awards are planned under this 3-year initiative, which commenced on September 1, 2024.
Generated 3/4/25, 3:54 AM