$1 Million Awarded to Galvanize Workforce with Electronics Education

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The Arkansas Department of Higher Education awarded the University of Arkansas $1 million to expand electronics education through development of credit and non-credit courses related to workforce needs in the semiconductor industry. Alan Mantooth, a Distinguished Professor of electrical engineering, will serve as the principal investigator on the award.

Students can expect to gain basic skills needed to establish careers in the semiconductor industry while current employees can increase their skills in pursuit of new professional opportunities.

“This grant offers a unique opportunity to strengthen the Arkansas workforce, specifically in the semiconductor and electronics industries,” Mantooth said.  “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.”

The impetus 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.

Programmatic goals include things like 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. Similar to an award fromthe Arkansas Department of Higher Education to the U of A to help increase the number of data science certificates and degrees throughout the state, the program will be modular, with credit and non-credit options for upskilling, and ultimately stackable certificates and coursework that can be transferred seamlessly between 2- and 4-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.