n feature | auto tech facilities
A lounge and cafe support community and camaraderie among St. Louis Community College students. Jim Corbett
AN INDUSTRY IN DEMAND Designing auto tech facilities for student success.
by Mike Behrmann, Lori Everett and Cory Kamholz
T
o remain relevant and successful, colleges and universities continue to adapt to the needs of students and the workforce demands of their surrounding communities. Community colleges in particular share a mandate to support educational training and job readiness that meet the needs of a quickly changing occupational landscape. Automotive and diesel technologies are industries undergoing rapid change as technicians adapt to highly sophisticated electric vehicles and internal combustion engines that pair with fuel-saving technologies, camera and sensor
support, self-driving capabilities and other emerging innovations. There is a growing shortage of technicians with the knowledge and skills to keep vehicles operational. Many higher education institutions (including St. Louis Community College, Olive Harvey College in Chicago, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale) have made investments in technology-rich, hands-on learning environments designed to attract and train the next generation of workers. The numbers don’t lie: The TechForce Foundation’s 2024 Supply and Demand Report predicts that over the next five years, nearly 1 million entrylevel transportation technicians will be needed in the automotive, collision, diesel and aviation industries. Transportation education environments must align with the needs of the evolving automotive industry and support the learning styles of Gen Z students and returning students looking to upskill. As the industry integrates more sophisticated technologies that support electric and hybrid vehicles, navigation systems, and autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles, the automotive field offers an opportunity for students interested in hands-on, problem-solving environments that
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