| NSF Org: |
DUE Division Of Undergraduate Education |
| Recipient: |
|
| Initial Amendment Date: | April 9, 2020 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | April 9, 2020 |
| Award Number: | 1955790 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Christine Delahanty
cdelahan@nsf.gov (703)292-8492 DUE Division Of Undergraduate Education EDU Directorate for STEM Education |
| Start Date: | June 1, 2020 |
| End Date: | May 31, 2023 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $363,192.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $363,192.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
|
| History of Investigator: |
|
| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
2244 BLACH PL STE 150 SAN JOSE CA US 95131-2060 (408)797-2221 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
|
| Primary Place of Performance: |
2244 Blach Place, Suite 150 San Jose CA US 95131-2060 |
| Primary Place of Performance Congressional District: |
|
| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
|
| Parent UEI: |
|
| NSF Program(s): | Advanced Tech Education Prog |
| Primary Program Source: |
|
| Program Reference Code(s): |
|
| Program Element Code(s): |
|
| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.076 |
ABSTRACT
Due to rapidly changing technologies that are being adopted in manufacturing facilities and retirements of current technicians, America?s manufacturing industry is facing a critical shortage of skilled technicians. To address this shortage, industries in northern California, Evergreen Valley College, and a Manufacturing U.S.A. Institute (NextFlex) will work together to create industry-aligned education programs, increase student awareness of careers in advanced manufacturing, and recruit students into advanced manufacturing education programs that meet their interests. This partnership will develop multiple education pathways including certificates and an Associate of Science degree in Advanced Manufacturing Technology. The central goal of this project is to increase the supply of technicians who have the right skills in advanced manufacturing to meet regional industry demand. It is expected that lessons learned in this project will result in a set of highly effective practices for regions across the country facing similar challenges.
Project partners will use the successful Business Industry Leadership Team model to identify the critical knowledge, skills, and attributes (KSAs) required by advanced manufacturing industry partners. The KSAs will be used to inform the curriculum development process for the technical education programs. Courses will include work-based learning experiences at industry partner facilities. To increase the supply of students in the new programs, an existing high school outreach model, FlexFactor, will be used to engage students, industry partners, and project team members in project-based learning experiences. To evaluate the effectiveness of the project, partners will monitor student outcomes and employer satisfaction. Project partners will also document lessons learned and best practices with the intent of sharing them with the technical education community in the region and the nation through conferences and media releases. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that 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.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
Outcomes Report
NextFlex was awarded a National Science Foundation Advance Technology Education grant is 2020, in partnership with Evergreen Valley College (EVC), in San Jose, CA, for the development and implementation of an Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) Program at the community college level focused on meeting the industry-driven demand for technicians in Silicon Valley. The AMT program takes an innovative approach to technician education through the implementation of courses that are co-developed and co-delivered with industry partners serving on the projects Business Industry Leadership Team (BILT). The BILT consists of numerous high profile manufacturing employers that have a specific focus on advanced manufacturing, including CAES (formerly Cobham), Jabil, DuPont, BD Bio Sciences, FlexInterconnect Technologies, as well as others.
The BILT was instrumental in developing coursework that would ensure the delivery of a curriculum that would exceed the needs of industry partners in Silicon Valley. The result was a two-year program comprised of two stackable certificates that, with additional general education courses, roll up into an Associates Degree. Divided into three tracks focused on either Materials, Electrical, or Mechanical proficiencies, curriculum involves both theoretical and practical learning techniques. Each track culminates in a formal work-based learning experience designed to assist students as they transition into employment.
Since courses were launched in Fall of 2020, 73 students engaged with the program. 60 of these students are employed with careers in the advanced manufacturing sector - 37 of which are newly employed as a result of their education and training, and 23 that participated in the AMT Program for upskilling purposes. Of note, 62% of all students that engaged with the AMT Program have received and accepted an employment opportunity in advanced manufacturing with local industry partners as a direct result of their engagement and participation. This program was particularly effective in reaching diverse populations, 73% of students being from diverse communities. The AMT Program provided them with the opportunity to grow their knowledge and skills in Advanced Manufacturing and to create a family-sustaining career. Through the AMT Program, we were able to create partnerships and work-based learning opportunities with key Silicon Valley employers, including Amazon, to continue to attract, retain and matriculate future program participants.
The additional partnerships between NextFlex and high school districts in the area, resulting in exposure to the Advanced Manufacturing Technology program at EVC through the FlexFactor Program. All grant goals related to FlexFactor were surpassed, specifically 3,601 students were exposed to Flexible Hybrid Electronics. Over 100 iterations were delivered across 22 different schools.
While the statistics demonstrate the obvious success of the program, NextFlex would be remiss to not present concerning data as well. Of the 73 students that engaged with the AMT Program, only 3 of them completed their Year 1 Certificates. While this number is expected to increase, it calls into question the importance of credentials and how they are valued by employers - especially with 60 students receiving employment opportunities. Only 3 of those 60 continuing forward to finish their Year 1 Certificate after being fully employed. While not detrimental to the program, it will be important moving forward to understand how to better incentivize students to complete their Certificate after receiving employment.
One thing is apparent: this program changed the lives of 73 students involved particularly the 37 individuals who found first time employment in this growing sector, a majority of which were from diverse backgrounds.
Last Modified: 09/27/2023
Modified by: Emily C Mcgrath
Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.
