Grant money to help UAFS place robotics labs in Charleston, Fort Smith and Greenwood schools
by July 11, 2016 4:35 pm 203 views
Part of almost $2 million in workforce development grants received by the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith will create robotics laboratories at public schools in Charleston, Fort Smith and Greenwood.
UAFS recently received $1.971 million in grants to create training programs for “an upcoming generation for an evolving manufacturing industry,” according to a UAFS statement. The programs focus on instruction in robotics and computer science.
“The evolution of the traditional manufacturing calls for a new skillset for our regional industries to remain competitive. Jobs in computer science fields are in high demand across multiple industry sectors like manufacturing, logistics, and retail, among others,” UAFS Chancellor Dr. Paul Beran said in a statement. “Additionally, UAFS and industry partners identified a lack of information technology skills among employees, especially in programming and networking. As it is expected to continue being a high growth area with demand for expertise, we saw the necessity of prioritizing it through a program funded by the workforce development grant.”
The university worked with industry partners and local organizations including ABB, Pernod-Ricard, Wal-Mart Stores, Hickory Springs Manufacturing (HSM), Western Arkansas Planning and Development District and the Western Arkansas Workforce Development Board to identify the areas of need for the program. Additionally, employees from industry partners will serve as mentors to students participating in the coursework.
Students participating in the robotics instruction are eligible to earn a technical certificate in their respective fields of study, with the option to transition into an associate or bachelor’s degree program after earning the technical certificate credential.
The funding also includes a $984,000 grant for programs in area high schools – with the Van Buren High School story previously reported by Talk Business & Politics – that focus in computer science, a field complementary to manufacturing.
The program will teach courses to students at Fort Smith Public Schools, Alma Public Schools and Van Buren Public Schools in the areas of programming, networking, and operating systems, as well as introductory computer science courses. Industry partners collaborating with UAFS on the program include Walmart, the 188th Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard, First National Bank, Arvest and Weldon, Williams, & Lick. Employees from these organizations will also serve as mentors to students participating in the program.
Dr. Ken Warden, dean of the College of Applied Science and Technology, said the grants will help advance the university’s priority of creating a seamless educational pathway for high school students.
“Through this grant, along with other educational centers at the university like the Western Arkansas Technical Center, students can graduate high school with two years of college coursework completed,” Warden said. “Increasing educational attainment in Arkansas starts with decreasing students’ time to degree completion and their cost of earning a degree. These concurrent credit programs will accomplish both of these goals, and students participating in these two unique opportunities will have increased employability regionally and nationally.”