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ASEE 2006-1668

Educational Models for Energy Workforce Development S. Midturi and S. B. Pidugu, University of Arkansas at Little Rock Department of Engineering Technology 2801 S. University Avenue Little Rock, AR, 72204

Abstract

It is documented that the United States of America’s manufacturing, energy, and software industries are facing severe shortage of well-trained and skilled workforce, and are on the verge of loosing technical superiority to other nations. To this end, grass root efforts involving recruitment, education, and training of students from trade schools, high schools and two-year institutes are to be initiated and promoted to prepare students for careers in industrial sector with an emphasis on energy management. This paper describes the Department of Energy sponsored collaborative effort between a university, two-year college, Arkansas state energy office and industry to address the issues of education and training of students for careers in industrial energy sector.

1. Introduction

The U.S. Department of Energy, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the Department of Labor and other professional organizations have recognized the need for well-educated and well- trained workforce to meet the need of the changing U.S manufacturing industries. The recognized competency gaps in today’s work force, according to the Manufacturing Education Foundation [1], are: low level education, minimal skills to cope with high tech gadgets, lack of motivation for technical careers, poor communication skills, poor work ethics, unawareness of job opportunities, lack of adaptive skills, low skills in the use of energy related software, and low level knowledge in the use of instruments for energy measurements and equipment efficiency.

The Annual Energy Outlook 2004 (AEO2004) with projections to 2025 [2,3] presents a critical review of energy use of USA in the residential, commercial, industrial, transportation sectors for the period 1970 - 2025. The graphs from AEO2004 forecast an increase in energy consumption in most sectors, and that primary energy use will exceed 136 quadrillion Btu per year by 2025, 40 percent higher than the 2002 level. However, the forecast indicates that the increase can stabilize as more efficient energy generation and consumption technologies offset the demand for more energy. Arkansas’s per capita energy use is similar to other states, with its energy use and savings dependent on the population and manufacturing industry. The current estimated population of the state of Arkansas is 2.7 million and is projected to be 2.84 million in 2010. Little Rock-North Little Rock, the location of this Initiative, Pine Bluff, Conway, and Hot

“Proceedings of the 2006 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright 2006, American Society for Engineering Education”

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Pidugu, S., & Midturi, S. (2006, June), Educational Models For Energy Workforce Development Paper presented at 2006 Annual Conference & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois. 10.18260/1-2--956