Developing a robotics and automation technician pathway for the agricultural and industrial sectors

The Research Foundation For The State University Of New York received a $474,019 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) awarded on September 15, 2025, with completion targeted for August 31, 2028. This initiative develops a robotics and automation technician educational pathway serving the agricultural and industrial sectors in Alfred, New York. The project delivers multiple integrated products and services, including introductory and advanced hands-on summer institutes providing National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) entry-level robotics and automation certifications, a pre-enrollment math jumpstart course designed to reduce math anxiety and increase enrollment in quantitative coursework, and professional development and NC3 teacher certifications for faculty to strengthen instructional expertise in emerging technologies.

The project further provides evidence-based recruitment and retention strategies targeting diverse student populations in rural areas with limited economic opportunities, leveraging industry partnerships to align curriculum with workforce demands. Deliverables include comprehensive assessments measuring summer institute impacts on associate degree enrollment, pathway strategy effectiveness on graduation rates, and math jumpstart course efficacy in reducing anxiety and boosting participation in mathematics-intensive programs. These data-driven evaluation findings are intended to generate actionable insights for improving technician education and workforce development nationally, addressing critical skill gaps in robotics and automation across agricultural and industrial sectors.

Abstract

This project aims to serve the national interest by addressing the growing demand for skilled technicians in robotics and automation, critical to maintaining food security and supporting the manufacturing workforce. IT plans to create an educational pathway that attracts and retains diverse students, preparing graduates for well-paying jobs in rural areas with limited opportunities. By aligning education with industry needs, the project will equip businesses to adapt to an increasingly automated future. Its innovative strategies, including industry partnerships and immersive summer institutes, will engage students, highlight career opportunities and provide industry-recognized credentials, demonstrating the significance of bridging educational gaps in advanced technologies. The project addresses the shortage of skilled robotics and automation technicians in the agricultural and industrial sectors through targeted approaches. The project goals include: (1) capturing student interest via immersive summer institutes, (2) increasing representation using evidence-based recruitment and retention strategies, and (3) reducing math anxiety through a pre-enrollment math jumpstart course. An introductory and advanced summer institute intends to provide hands-on experience and national coalition of certification centers (NC3) certifications in entry-level robotics and automation. Faculty expertise will be strengthened through NC3 teacher certifications and professional development. The project plans to assess summer institutes' impacts on associate degree enrollment, pathway strategies on graduation rates, and the effectiveness of math jumpstart courses in reducing anxiety and boosting enrollment in math-heavy programs. Findings intend to offer data-driven insights to improve technician education and workforce development. 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.- subawards are not planned for this award.