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Foundations of the Future: IPC Education Foundation Update and Looking Ahead

The IPC Education Foundation (IPCEF) takes pride in the accomplishments of its second year. The foundation focused on a variety of digital/virtual exposure and engagement activities to share information about the electronics manufacturing industry. The foundation held 10 webinars covering a wide range of industry-specific topics and conducted 28 interviews with IPC student members, IPC emerging engineers, industry representatives, and IPC leadership, to share knowledge about career paths into the industry that led to blog posts, articles and social media campaigns. The foundation successfully reached more than 110,000 individuals and engaged with more than 5,500 individuals through these activities.

An IPC student member, Paige Fiet, president of the IPC Student Chapter at Michigan Technological University and graduating in December 2021 with an Electrical Engineering degree/BioMed application, was appointed in February 2020 as student member board liaison representative to the IPC Board of Directors. Elections will open in the fall to identify the next candidate.

The IPCEF will continue to create awareness of the careers the electronics manufacturing industry has to offer students in high school and college by providing them with opportunities to access people, courses, and knowledge in 2021.

IPC Student Chapters
The IPC Education Foundation’s Student Chapter Program focuses on providing scholarships, offering relevant industry content, and assisting with career readiness for its student members. 2020 was another year of growth. IPCEF chartered 15 new IPC Student Chapters bringing the total to 38 student chapters across 19 states in the U.S., engaging 517 student members. Twenty-five chapters exist at four-year universities while 14 chapters exist at two-year community/technical colleges.

To be eligible for membership, student members must be pursuing degrees in the following disciplines: electrical, electronics, mechanical, computer, technology, chemical, aerospace, and/or broad engineering. IPCEF has student members in certificate programs, two-year degrees, four-year degrees, master’s and doctoral students.

The foundation will continue to expand the reach of the program by growing the number of chapters in the United States with plans to expand internationally in 2021 and beyond. The IPC Student Chapter program provides scholarships, industry-standard education, industry connections, and access to hands-on competitions, especially with the support of industry experts and professionals like yourself.

Learn more information about the 2020 scholarship winners here.

High School Student Engagement
The IPC Education Foundation (IPCEF) hosted its STEM Outreach event on February 6, 2020 at IPC APEX EXPO in San Diego, California. Twice as many students were able to participate and the day was packed with several hands-on technical activities, career exploration, and industry engagement. Nine local high schools attended bringing 193 students and 30 educators from: Mission Hills High School, Morse High School, North County Trade Tech High School, San Marcos High School, E3 Civic High School, Point Loma High School, Otay Ranch High School, Mount Miguel High School, and Otay Ranch High School—Girls in STEM. Each participating high school received a $1,000 award to support electronics education in their classrooms.

We are truly grateful to our event sponsors who supported and participated in the day’s activities. The student participation, awards, and giveaways were made possible through the generous support of Foxconn Interconnect Industries, I-Connect007, Nordson, Panasonic, TTM Technologies, and Weller Apex Tools.

Because of the pandemic, the 2021 STEM Outreach Event will take place during the fall and delivered virtually, allowing more schools, students, and teachers to participate in learning about the careers and skills the electronics manufacturing industry has to offer.

Exciting New Opportunity
By equipping students with valuable industry-related knowledge through specific online IPC resources and content, the foundation may be able to address some of the industry’s needs:

• Lack of awareness of the careers and skills needed
• Shortage of qualified technical candidates due to not enough skilled younger workers entering the electronics industry
• An aging workforce
• Lack of job preparedness as many schools are not teaching the students the right curriculum related to industry and career readiness 

We will be reaching out to high schools, preferably vocational high schools, as well as technical community colleges and universities to participate in this new program. The goal is to share relevant industry content with students that will not only create awareness but also allow them to better understand the skills needed to pursue and access viable career opportunities.

Interested in Participating and Supporting These Efforts?
The foundation will continue to create awareness of the careers the electronics manufacturing industry has to offer students in high school and college by providing them with opportunities to access people, courses, and knowledge in 2021.

The foundation needs company representatives to volunteer their time to host virtual information sessions, facility tours, provide mentorship and guidance, assist with projects, and showcase opportunities in the electronics industry. The students across our IPC Student Chapters and the participating high schools are full of optimism, and ready to join the industry. Please let us know how you wish to support the foundation by answering a three-question survey here. Thank you for your support!

This column originally appeared in the February 2021 issue of SMT007 Magazine.