Robotics Career Pathway
A.W. Beattie Career Center
9600 Babcock Boulevard
Allison Park, PA 15101
http://www.beattietech.com/default.asp
Kathryn Bamberger, Director
Phone: 412-366-2800 ext 202
Estimates are that, in 2005, nearly one million robots were used worldwide in such trades as the automotive industry, electronics and medicine. A new educational program in Pennsylvania offers high school students a career pathway into robotics to meet increasing demands of the state’s bourgeoning robotics industry. This partnership will offer seamless transitions from a high school robotics program at A.W. Beattie Career Center to associate and baccalaureate degree programs at the California University of Pennsylvania, with guidance and support from Carnegie Mellon University.
The Technology Collaborative (TTC), a statewide economic development organization that supports the growth of Pennsylvania’s world-class robotics, cyber-security and digital technologies industries, announced the 2+2+2 robotics career pathway educational partnership in the fall of 2005.
The partners received a $200,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Workforce Leadership program to support this effort. The group is partnering to develop a unique and articulated robotics technology curriculum, with guidance from industry so that the program will meet the growing and under served technician and technologist needs of the region’s robotics companies.
"Our goal is to open doors for our students to follow a career path that would lead to work in the robotics field,” said Kathryn E. Bamberger, director, A.W. Beattie Career Center. “Because this program will work to meet training needs for robots used in civilian markets and by the armed forces, which is indeed a noble goal, we are committed to working with California University to produce the most highly skilled robotics workforce in the country."
The new program will train students to use, manufacture, evaluate and repair commercial and military robots. Students who successfully complete the program will receive 15 credits of advanced placement into an engineering technology associate degree program at California University. The program will have multiple exit points, allowing students who have satisfactorily completed all course work, to exit after any of the three educational levels (high school, associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree) and pursue a rewarding career based on the skills gained in the program.
