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Communiversity event highlights alignment with industry and education, MSU-led initiatives

Communiversity event highlights alignment with industry and education, MSU-led initiatives

A man demonstrates how to use robotic manufacturing equipment in a lab full of people.
Carver Middleton, research engineer with MSU Athlete Engineering and Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, right, demonstrates how to use cobots, which are commonly used in manufacturing facilities. MSU partnered with EMCC to create an advanced manufacturing training facility at EMCC鈥檚 Communiversity, the AiM UP training laboratory. (Photo by Jonah Holland)

Contact: James Carskadon

STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 Tuesday [Dec. 12] event at East Mississippi Community College鈥檚 Communiversity highlighted the continued alignment of industry needs and educational opportunities, as well as multiple initiatives led by 幺力视频.

The event brought together leaders from key Mississippi industries, workforce development, K-12 education, community colleges and four-year universities to focus on ways to strengthen Mississippi鈥檚 advanced manufacturing workforce. The event was hosted by FANUC, a major manufacturer of robots used in industrial settings.

A common theme among speakers was the need to provide individuals with a modern, and more accurate, perception of manufacturing jobs. Instead of a monotonous assembly line task, today鈥檚 manufacturers are more often working with advanced machines.

鈥淭oday鈥檚 manufacturing is high-tech, high-paying and can provide a living wage,鈥 said Joe Baldiga, manager for FANUC America鈥檚 education and workforce development programs.

A panel discussion with participants seated at a table in front of a large screen
A panel representing industry, academia and community college partners discuss how educational partnerships are helping industry better recruit and train a manufacturing workforce. (Photo by Jonah Holland)

Participants were able to tour the Communiversity鈥檚 training facilities for machining and engineering/technical drafting. New facilities also are being established within the Communiversity as part of two MSU-led initiatives: AiM UP (Advancements in Manufacturing Upskilling Program) and the Mississippi Advanced Composites Institute Training Center (MAC). AiM UP is a Department of Labor, Department of Defense, and AccelerateMS-funded effort designed to strengthen Mississippi鈥檚 industrial base by establishing training hubs at community colleges across the state and giving university students access to equipment used at advanced manufacturing locations. Led by MSU鈥檚 Advanced Composites Institute, the MAC provides composites manufacturing training at an industrial scale, supporting industries in defense and aerospace that use composite materials.

Reuben Burch, MSU associate vice president for research, said his vision for the AiM UP program and other similar initiatives is for the entities across the state to operate independently but compete collectively to position Mississippi for success in the current and future manufacturing environment.

鈥淎s a state, we have come a long way and put ourselves in a strong position to, not only compete, but to be the envy of other advanced manufacturing training programs,鈥 Burch said. 鈥淚f we continue to grow our workforce equally across the state and provide relevant training while meeting industry needs, we can be even more competitive.鈥

Industry representatives from organizations like PACCAR Engine Company and Nissan North America shared how they work with K-12 schools and community colleges to ensure students in career and technical programs receive education that is relevant today. Ray Hollis, EMCC鈥檚 workforce business outreach and training manager, noted that the Communiversity鈥檚 training facilities are designed to be adaptable to changing industry needs. He said ultimately, they want to make more people aware of the growing career opportunities in manufacturing.

鈥淲e need people to be inspired,鈥 Hollis said. 鈥淲hen we give people an opportunity, they will grow it.鈥

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