Integrating mechatronics and machine tool technology to prepare advanced manufacturing technicians

The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded Florence-Darlington Technical College $474,296 on September 1, 2026, to integrate its mechatronics and machine tool technology programs into a unified curriculum for advanced manufacturing technicians under the Advanced Technological Education program (CFDA 47.076).

Over the three-year performance period through August 31, 2029, the college will revise curricula so graduates in both programs develop knowledge and skills across mechanical, electrical, software, and precision manufacturing systems. The project will strengthen student recruitment, outreach, and retention by helping students understand program requirements, and will expand career pathways through strengthened industry partnerships connecting student outreach, education, and employment. The college will document and disseminate the revised curricula, recruitment and retention practices, industry partnerships, and implementation process to enable other colleges to adopt these approaches for their own technician education programs.

Work is performed in Florence, South Carolina. The funding is classified as a project grant. No sub-awards are planned.

Abstract

Florence darlington technical college?s (fdtc) three-year project will integrate its mechatronics and machine tool technology programs to prepare technicians with skills from both fields. Although these two programs support closely connected functions in modern manufacturing, students currently develop their technical skills within separate programs. This project will prepare graduates to work more effectively across mechatronics and machine tool environments and meet the needs of the region?s growing manufacturing sector. The project has three goals. First, IT will revise the curricula so graduates in both programs develop the knowledge and skills needed to work across mechanical, electrical, software, and precision manufacturing systems. Second, IT will strengthen student recruitment, outreach, and retention and help students understand the requirements for completing these technical programs. Third, IT will expand career pathways by strengthening industry partnerships that connect student outreach, education, and employment. This project will document and disseminate the revised curricula, recruitment and retention practices, industry partnerships, and implementation process so that other colleges can consider these approaches for their own technician education programs. By combining skills that have been traditionally taught separately, the project will prepare graduates for a wider range of advanced manufacturing positions and provide a model for other rural colleges. This project is funded by the advanced technological education (ATE) program, which 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.