A new program from Clemson University aims to utilize students’ tech savvy to help build the next generation of advanced manufacturing workers.
University President James Clements announced the creation of the TIME for Robotics program at the Clemson University Center for Workforce Development on Tuesday. The program will incorporate virtual reality to help educate high school students to master’s degree candidates about the role of robotics in manufacturing applications.
Campus officials said the program would combat perceptions that manufacturing is dirty or arduous work. The curriculum could particularly focus on humans working with factory robots, which would also help dispel the fear that more robots will lead to job losses — a problematic misconception as a shortage of skilled manufacturing workers looms.
Clements told manufacturing executives in Greenville, S.C., that the program is geared toward “deepening and diversifying the pool of workers who are ready for jobs in advanced manufacturing.”
Clemson researchers plan to develop courses that incorporate online lectures, videos, and augmented and virtual reality components. The sessions would be arranged to supplement classroom lessons and made available on the Center for Workforce Development’s EducateWorkforce.com online platform.
Clemson’s Vehicle Assembly Center will help validate the curriculum, which will be first deployed by Greenville Technical College. Officials hope other technical colleges, community colleges,and universities use the content as well.
Nearly $1.8 million from the Defense Department’s Manufacturing Engineering Education Program will fund the program.
Image Credit: LightField Studios/Shutterstock.com
