Bowling Green State University Firelands receives funding to upgrade engineering technology equipment
The funding was secured through the state of Ohio’s Super RAPIDS initiative, which was designed to improve the state’s workforce training.
Bowling Green State University Firelands will benefit from almost $137,000 in funding through Ohio’s Super RAPIDS initiative, a program designed to enhance the state’s workforce training and education. The funding will purchase new equipment for laboratories for the school’s electronics and electromechanical technology labs. The university’s Firelands campus was able to secure the funding through a collaboration with the university’s College of Engineering and Innovation.
According to an article on Bowling Green State University Firelands’ website, Allia Carter, who serves as the dean of BGSU Firelands, was quoted as saying of the funding, “Partnerships like the RAPIDS initiative allow us to meet students where they are while also looking ahead to where the region is going. For our students, it means they can train on the latest technology without leaving their community. For local employers, it means a pipeline of graduates who can step into careers with the knowledge, confidence and experience to contribute immediately. This is about preparing students for meaningful careers and helping our region thrive.”
The funding allowed the university to purchase programmable logic controllers (PLCs), circuit workstations, and advanced testing instruments for the electronics and electromechanical technology labs. These are the types of machines and equipment that students need to practice on to prepare for careers in technology and advanced manufacturing. The hands-on training opportunities these machines will give students within BGSU Firelands labs will ensure that students have the skills and knowledge to operate and trouble shoot the same equipment they will encounter in their careers.
Philip Weinsier, who is a professor of engineering technology at BGSU Firelands, said, “This investment is a game-changer for our students. With the RAPIDS funding, we can fully deliver the type of lab experience that connects directly to what industry is asking for. This is about more than just machines. It’s about confidence. Students can walk into an internship or a new job already comfortable with the tools of the trade. That makes a difference for them, and it makes a difference for employers.”
For more information about Bowling Green State University Firelands, visit the school’s website.