The Arkansas Department of Higher Education has awarded the University of Arkansas $1 million to expand electronics education through the development of courses related to workforce needs in the semiconductor industry.
Alan Mantooth, a distinguished professor of electrical engineering at the university, will serve as the principal investigator on the award.
According to a press release from the university, students in the courses will gain the “basic skills” needed to establish careers in the semiconductor industry and current employees can increase their skills in “pursuit of new professional opportunities.”
The main goal of the award is to create a statewide program that connects local industry, K-12 education systems and institutions of higher learning to collaborate in improving the knowledge and skill base needed to meet staffing needs in the semiconductor industry. This will include coordinating on education related to electronics, packaging, manufacturing and automation technologies, as well as data analytics specific to semiconductor technology.
“This grant offers a unique opportunity to strengthen the Arkansas workforce, specifically in the semiconductor and electronics industries,” Mantooth said in the release. “It provides students access to continued education that will equip them for higher-paying jobs, improving their futures, therefore improving the future of our state.”
Specific programmatic goals include increasing the number of certifications in hand soldering and inspection of electronic assemblies, with the ability to recognize defects and nonconformities. Classes will also cover how to solder and mount components onto printed circuit boards using automated machines and equipment.
Additionally, classes will cover foundational elements of electronic components, with a solid grounding in resistors, capacitors and diodes, as well as basic troubleshooting for faults and failures in circuit boards.
The program will also be modular, with credit and non-credit options for upskilling, as well as stackable certificates and coursework that can be transferred between two- and four-year colleges if higher degrees are desired. Otherwise, participants can pick and choose which modules to take to fill gaps in their knowledge base.
In addition to Mantooth, program coordinators will include Jason Serin, chief of operations for the U of A Power Group; Jeff Dix, an assistant professor of electrical engineering at the U of A; and Shawn Bell, director of workforce development for the U of A Power Group.
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