Board 241: Developing PLC and Robotic Automation Technician Certificate Program for Service Industries
- Conference
- Location
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Portland, Oregon
- Publication Date
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June 23, 2024
- Start Date
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June 23, 2024
- End Date
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June 26, 2024
- Conference Session
- Tagged Topics
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Diversity and NSF Grantees Poster Session
- Page Count
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12
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--46812
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/46812
- Download Count
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94
Paper Authors
Shouling He Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
Dr. Shouling He holds a position of professor of Engineering and Technology at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, where she teaches various courses in Mechatronics and Electrical Engineering. Her academic and educational interests focus on Robotics and Automation, Machine Learning, and Mechatronics Education. She has authored over 50 papers published in journals and conferences.
Douglas Jahnke Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
Abstract
This project supported by NSF ATE (award #2202107) aims to serve the national interest by addressing the shortage of technicians with the skills to maintain programable logic controllers (PLCs) and robots in the service industries. The program at Vaughn College provides a PLC and Robotic Automation (PRA) Technician Certificate with 13 credits. It will educate technicians for positions in service industries such as wholesale and retail, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and airport baggage and cargo handling [1][2][3]. Moreover, all credits earned through the certificate program are transferable to the college's Mechatronic Engineering program. Vaughn College, a Hispanic-Serving Institution, places a strong emphasis on recruiting students from low-income families and underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. This certificate program reduces the financial burden and time commitment necessary for students to pursue education, granting them the means to pursue advanced degrees or provide support to other family members seeking greater opportunities.
The goal of the project is to create a one-year certificate program to provide PRA Technicians with the skills they need for employment in service industries. To ensure graduates of the program have the desired qualifications, the project (a) collaborates with its Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) to determine the service industry needs and develop a curriculum to meet those needs; (b) supports faculty to be trained and obtain industry certifications; (c) recruits both high-school graduates, incumbent workers and college students using newly developed informational materials. Also, by partnering with the college’s existing mechatronic program to recruit female and racial and ethnic minorities into the program, diversity in the PRA Technician workforce will be increased. Advancements in the understanding of technical education for service industries are shared through ATE (Advanced Technological Education) Central and at regional and national conferences [4].
He, S., & Jahnke, D. (2024, June), Board 241: Developing PLC and Robotic Automation Technician Certificate Program for Service Industries Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--46812
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