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TechReadySC™, a collaboration of five Upstate South
Carolina technical and community colleges and the South Carolina Technical
College System office, announced the launch of a new mechatronics curriculum
for the fall 2008 semester. The announcement was made at a press conference at the BMW Zentrum in Greer.
Spartanburg Community College, Greenville Technical College, Piedmont Technical College, Tri-County Technical College and York Technical College will offer this new technical degree program developed with a grant from AdvanceSC. "AdvanceSC is proud to serve the needs of our community and recognizes this collaboration as a necessary approach for our state to produce a skilled and proficient work force," said Carol Burdette, AdvanceSC president. "Our board agrees that this grant will make an impact on local communities and better serve employers throughout the region." AdvanceSC is funded with profits from Duke Energy’s Bulk Power Marketing program and since November 2006 has awarded $2.5 million in grant monies to the colleges and the South Carolina Technical College System office to encourage a regional approach to workforce development training for the Upstate. From that grant, the Upstate Alliance for Technical Education was formed and was later re-named TechReadySC™. “This project represents the critical phase of the TechReadySC™ initiative to create a ready pool of technicians with mechatronics and maintenance skills needed to work in advanced manufacturing,” said Cynthia Eason, vice president of corporate and economic development for Greenville Technical College and chair of the TechReadySC™ board of directors. A widely accepted career in Europe since the nineties, mechatronics has only recently been recognized as a new training opportunity in Upstate South Carolina. The term mechatronics refers to an interdisciplinary field involving control systems, electronic systems, computers and mechanical systems that integrates product design and automated manufacturing processes. Because industrial applications are becoming more and more complex, industries need technicians with skills that cross a variety of disciplines. Many existing job categories currently or will soon require mechatronics skills and problem solving abilities for professionals who design, implement, manufacture, service and repair a wide array of equipment. “TechReadySC™ is an exciting initiative for Upstate South Carolina,” said Dr. Barry Russell, president of the South Carolina Technical College System. “The need for employees skilled in mechatronics is great and continues to grow. The collaboration of the five colleges and the System office will be instrumental in meeting this workforce need while also providing a blueprint for cooperation that can be utilized throughout the state.” The mechatronics program will provide training for certificates and an associate degree. Mechatronics students will train on state-of-the art equipment from suppliers including Kuka, Festo and Siemens. The collaboration among the five colleges ensures students are trained on the same standardized curriculum and tested to meet industry standards. Professional development for individuals already working in related fields will also be available through continuing education courses at each of the five colleges. Beginning this fall, Spartanburg Community College will offer a Mechatronics Technology I certificate program with day and evening class options. Full-time students attending during the day will be able to complete the certificate in two semesters. Evening and part-time students may require additional semesters. Students successfully completing the certificate program will be eligible to continue the program in fall 2009 with certificate credits applied towards an Associate Degree in Occupational Technology with a Major in General Technology-Mechatronics. SCC’s Corporate and Community Education Division will offer mechatronics training designed to improve skills for industry-specific needs through a registered apprenticeship program with six area companies - Renfrow Brothers, BMW Corporation, Lear Corporation, SEW Euro drive, INA Bearing and Duer Coil. For additional information on TechReadySC™ and the new mechatronics curriculum, visit www.techreadysc.com. (Images provided by TechReadySC.)
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