Episode 51: Integrating Emerging and Cross-Cutting Technologies: Manufacturing and IT

In this podcast episode, published by the Center for Occupational Research and Development, Diane Meza and Leah Palmer from Maricopa Community Colleges discuss creating innovative technician programs through academic-industrial collaboration. First, Palmer discusses the Semiconductor Technician Quick Start program, which provides students with a 10-day hands-on training course in a semiconductor fabrication plant. Topics covered include recruiting faculty from industry, the importance of short programs, using hiring data to inform curriculum decisions, and more. Meza then discusses the process of collaboration between IT faculty, manufacturing faculty, and industry to create the Technician IT Fundamentals program, which teaches manufacturing technician students IT skills to meet the growing industry need for technicians who are able to utilize data.

The audio recording runs 40:15 minutes in length. Also available is a video version and .pdf transcript of the recordin