IPC Education Foundation Promotes Partnerships Between Industry, Academia

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

During IPC APEX EXPO 2019, the IPC Education Foundation launched six IPC student chapters at: Auburn, North Carolina State, Sacramento State, Central Carolina Community College, Gwinnett Technical College, and Michigan Technical University. The student chapters at North Carolina State, Central Carolina Community College and Michigan Technical University provide examples of how industry can partner with education institutions to prepare engineering students with knowledge specific to the electronics industry.

Weller’s Susan Spaulding remarked, “Weller Tools, the world-wide leader in manual soldering equipment, is supporting students at North Carolina State and Central Carolina.” By sponsoring the annual student fee, Weller provides students access to industry produced video courses, IPC standards, and the benefits of IPC membership including additional industry courses at member discounted rates.

Calumet Electronics is another industry partner that is helping college students at Michigan Technical University enter the electronics sector better prepared with specific knowledge and skills. “As we recruit students and faculty to start IPC Student Chapters, we’re creating special partnerships, facilitated by the IPC Education Foundation, to pair IPC member companies with universities and technical schools in their region,” said Colette Buscemi, senior director of IPC education programs. “We’ve built this cooperative model to open opportunities for students to enter our industry with knowledge and skills that give them an advantage in the job market. Companies benefit because their job candidates come to the table with specific, industry knowledge.”

The IPC Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, focuses on strengthening and shaping the emerging workforce by providing educational opportunities, connecting the emerging workforce with industry opportunities, improving the perception of the industry, and offering scholarships to deserving students.

About IPC

IPC is a global industry association based in Bannockburn, Ill., dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its 5,000 member-company sites which represent all facets of the electronics industry, including design, printed board manufacturing, electronics assembly and test. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of an estimated $2 trillion global electronics industry. IPC maintains additional offices in Taos, N.M.; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, Ga.; Brussels, Belgium; Stockholm, Sweden; Moscow, Russia; Bangalore and New Delhi, India; Bangkok, Thailand; and Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Suzhou and Beijing, China.

About Weller Tools

Weller is the premier soldering brand from Apex Tool Group, one of the largest hand tool manufacturers in the world. Since 1952, Weller has stood for innovations in soldering and today the company continues leading the way with application solutions to complex electronics manufacturing challenges. Revolutionary Weller engineering has extended tip life and investments in battery soldering technology have yielded cordless, portable products that offer increased performance with extended battery life. Weller tools play a role in the manufacture of electronics innovations around the world.

About Calumet Electronics 

Calumet is an American printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturer. Our circuit boards are found in applications demanding zero failures, zero downtime, and require lifetime performance: industrial controls, power grid management, life support, medical diagnostics, avionics, aerospace, and the military.