FLATE Awarded a 3-year $950,000 Grant from NSF

Last month, FLATE, part of the FloridaMakes Network, secured a $950,000 grant (NSF Award 2148138) to update the A.S. Engineering Technology program to address Industry 4.0 skills identified in a previous small conference grant (Future of Work Caucus) that brought Florida industries and educators together to define needed emerging manufacturing technician skills. The new grant is a partnership with four State Colleges Engineering Technology programs at Central Florida College (CF), Daytona State College (DSC) Polk State College (Polk), and St. John’s River State College (SJRSC). Co-PI’s are Sam Ajlani (CF), Ron Eaglin (DSC), Mori Toosi (Polk) and Jay Paterson (SJRSC). Each of the co-PIs will take the lead on one of the project goals below.

• Modify and update the Florida Curriculum Frameworks for Advanced Manufacturing to address Florida's technicians’ Industry 4.0 skills gap as identified by Florida manufacturers. 
• Provide Professional Development activities to up-skill ET program faculty
• Create short-term College Credit Certificate to quickly up-skill current and future technicians with the new skills gap.
• Engage manufacturers with college A.S.ET skills and certificates.
• Create Post-A.S. Curriculum Advanced Technology Certificate (ATC) that complements ET Degree’s role in the Florida Plan for manufacturing education. 

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program is under the NSF Directorate of Education and Human Resources.  It supports technician education in many advanced technologies for two-year A.S. degree programs. Any 2-year advanced technology program that has an innovative program, curriculum, recruitment strategy, professional development workshop they want to adapt or adopt writing an NSF ATE project proposal might be a great way to start. There are many resources to help faculty craft a winning proposal.  Visit the NSF ATE website for more information or contact Dr. Marilyn Barger for help getting started.