Missouri University of Science and Technology, East Central College and St. Charles Community College are teaming up to develop coaching for high-tech manufacturing jobs.
The three establishments are receiving a $9.1 million grant from the state to help the efforts that can embrace new buildings and diploma applications in addition to outreach to Ok-12 college students to get them extra fascinated with superior manufacturing.
“We’ve seen for the past couple decades, our manufacturing has moved to other countries, and it’s been especially bad in Missouri,” stated state Rep. Don Mayhew, R-Crocker. “That causes me heartburn.”
Manufacturers in Missouri are reporting they're working at solely 75% capability.
“Missouri desperately needs more engineering and technical students educated in emerging advanced manufacturing technology to address the shortage of employees in this industry,” stated Richard Billo, director of Missouri S&T’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing.
Locating the coaching in additional rural areas of the state is intentional.
“Those rural areas, a lot of the young people want to go back home. And so we looked at what's the opportunity for them? Well, 80% of the manufacturers in Missouri are in the rural counties,” Billo stated.
The mission, titled “Bridging the Manufacturing Critical Skills Gap,” is funded by the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development’s MoExcels Workforce Initiative.
Missouri S&T is creating curriculum and diploma applications that particularly give attention to manufacturing. It will even develop its outreach applications to college students via its summer season camps, applications on campus and its STEM outreach van that will probably be crammed with gear for manufacturing education and supply hands-on experiences for 1000's of Missouri college students as younger as 9 years outdated.
East Central College, primarily based in Union, will assemble a Center for Advanced Manufacturing, which will probably be a part of its new Rolla campus that's set to open in 2027. It will give attention to certification, coaching and levels in areas together with welding and industrial upkeep.
“Wouldn't that be ideal if we could meet the needs of area Missouri manufacturers in 10 years? So there is no gap, but that would be a wonderful problem to have,” stated Joel Doepker, ECC’s vp of exterior relations.
St. Charles Community College will even be a part of the Ok-12 outreach and is creating a brand new manufacturing curriculum targeted on rising vitality applied sciences. The faculty can be collaborating with S&T on twin enrollment applications, internships and persevering with education programs.
“This is personal for me,” stated Billo, who grew up in rural West Virginia. “I only became an engineer because a local university gave me a chance. And I’ve always committed myself to bring that opportunity to as many kids like me that I can. This program helps make that happen.”
