Housed at Owensboro Community & Technical College (OCTC) since 2018, the Advanced Manufacturing Technical Education Collaborative (AMTEC) is a nationwide partnership of educational and industry leaders. AMTEC has received a grant to provide professional development for 100 educators across the U.S., addressing the critical shortage of skilled labor in advanced manufacturing.
The $642,949 grant comes from the National Science Foundation (NSF) through the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program to launch the AMTEC Institute for Industry 4.0 Innovation (AI3).
AMTEC has a track record of securing NSF ATE grants to enhance student pipelines, bolster staff development, and improve success in manufacturing programs. The collaborative’s efforts have focused on diversifying student participation, offering competency-based education, and strengthening ties with industry partners to ensure classroom instruction translates effectively to real-world applications.
The new AI3 initiative builds on the success of AMTEC’s recent NSF-funded projects, which integrate advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and competency-based education into manufacturing training. These include “Strengthening the Industry 4.0 Workforce through Virtual Reality Training Modules” and “Improving Technician Training in Industry 4.0 Technologies Using Competency-Based Education.”
These efforts are part of a broader strategy to address a projected shortfall of manufacturing jobs. According to a 2021 report by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute, more than two million manufacturing jobs will be left open through 2030, with 77% of manufacturers expecting it to be difficult to fill positions and retain talent.
However, the rapid pace of technological advancement presents challenges for educators trying to keep their curricula up to date. A 2019 National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers report highlighted the difficulty even experienced faculty face in staying ahead of Industry 4.0 developments, underscoring the need for targeted professional development.
AI3 seeks to equip secondary and postsecondary educators with the knowledge and tools to teach the latest Industry 4.0 technologies. Over the three-year grant period, AMTEC will conduct 10 intensive, two-day training sessions for 100 instructors nationwide, collaborating with partners zSpace and Multi-Skill Training Services (MST). Participants will also receive ongoing support through virtual community-of-practice sessions and a dedicated online forum.
The training sessions, set to begin in spring 2025, will cover topics such as virtual and augmented reality tools, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Each session will host at least 10 participants, ensuring a minimum of 100 educators receive comprehensive instruction by spring 2027.
“As AMTEC continues to build pathways for Industry 4.0 education, we’re eager to connect with educators who share our vision of a prepared, adaptable workforce ready to meet the demands of modern manufacturing,” said Jason Simon, Director of AMTEC and Principle Investigator of the AI3 grant project. “We invite any institution or instructor interested in joining this transformative initiative to reach out. Together, we can empower educators with the tools and training needed to equip the next generation of skilled technicians.”
For more information on joining this initiative with AMTEC, contact Simon at 270-686-4616 or [email protected].
