2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This paper will use a case-study approach to explore the role of industry partnerships and their impact on the implementation of a NSF Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST)-funded community-based engineering design course centered on advanced manufacturing. The three-part course for underrepresented middle school students in rural NC launched in 2020 and has served over 100 students to date. The project aims to allow students and teachers the opportunity to explore the full range of STEM advanced manufacturing career options available in their local community. Students learned STEM content as well as technical and job essential (soft) skills necessary for future employment; while, teachers boosted their knowledge of STEM, local STEM careers, and pedagogical skills. Industry partners developed a pipeline of STEM talent for future recruitment, expanded corporate outreach, and highlighted potential career opportunities within their company.

This project boasts meaningful industry partnerships with local companies including Pfizer, Cummins, Kaba Ilco Corporation, LS Cable & System, Hitachi, and Poppies International that allowed students to study three broad areas: energy systems, food process engineering, and pharmaceuticals. These partnerships were cultivated through intentional outreach with the school district and a regional STEM advocacy organization. Each participating partner was asked to actively engage in the project by acting as project advisors, collaborating on curriculum development, mentoring students, serving as invited guest speakers in the classroom, and hosting virtual and site tours of their manufacturing facilities. To ensure the industry partners remained engaged, project leaders provided clear and consistent communication through written updates and virtual meetings, offered multiple opportunities for participation, and solicited feedback designed to help improve the project.