Washington Alliance for Mechatronics Education, Certification, and Hands-on Skills

Mechatronics combines mechanical systems, electronics, robotics, automation, and computer-controlled manufacturing. Employers in the Puget Sound region of Washington State need more technicians who can install, maintain, troubleshoot, and improve these advanced systems. However, mechatronics is still an emerging field and there is no clear regional consensus on the entry-level skills that technicians should possess or how to assess these skills. This project will expand access to high-quality mechatronics education for residents throughout the region by helping local community and technical colleges work with employers to define needed skills, improve educational programs, and support students' progress toward credentials and in-demand, high-wage careers. This project will be led by the Mechatronics Department at Green River College, in partnership with Renton Technical College and Everett Community College and with participation from six additional public community and technical colleges. Supporting partners include the Kent Valley Air and Space Manufacturing Roundtable, the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, and the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. The project has three major objectives: aligning mechatronics curricula with regional workforce needs, strengthening collaboration and resource sharing among colleges, and expanding partnerships with area employers. To achieve these objectives, the project team will convene regional mechatronics conferences; use employer and faculty input to define entry-level knowledge, skills, and abilities required for mechatronics technicians; create a regional intercollegiate certificate; engage a coalition-wide Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT); improve intercollegiate credit articulation and credential attainment; and publish instructional materials as open educational resources. The project is expected to benefit at least 49 mechatronics faculty and more than 748 students during the grant period. Its products and processes will form a regional model for employer-aligned mechatronics education, which may be adopted by other college systems around the nation. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education 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.