Cars from various eras were gathered as part of the team challenge module comparing and contrasting different automotive technologies.

Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) hosted its Ninth Annual High School Skills Challenge Day on April 13, 2018.

Automotive students from five local high schools from Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties competed for awards in hands-on events such as:

• Vehicle Maintenance Inspections
• Automotive Parts Identification
• Servicing high voltage cars
• Comparing and contrasting 21st Century Automotive Technology, featuring an exhibition of cars from different technological eras
• Electrical Diagnostic Challenge
• Wheel Rotation Test
• A Technical ASE Style Exam

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Student teams from the Inland Empire/Desert Region came out strong for this year’s National KidWind Competition in Chicago!

The top three high school teams from the regional competition on February 24th, along with a slew of middle schools students, raised funds to travel and compete at the national level. The event was held as part of the American Wind Energy Conference in Chicago on May 9th. Read More →

Exploring increased collaboration possibilities to address workforce needs.

On Friday, April 13, Advanced Manufacturing Deputy Sector Navigator Mark Martin and Clean Energy and Transportation Deputy Sector Navigator Pam Gutman co-hosted an event with Tesla’s Manager of Technician Training, Tony Sciarra, at the company’s headquarters to explore increased collaboration to address Tesla technical (or skilled-trade) workforce needs. Read More →

Home to three major airports and an active air force base, the Inland Empire Region is a prime area for colleges and high schools to engage students in aviation programs.

Currently there are three established aviation-related programs among the region’s colleges, at San Bernardino Valley College, Victor Valley College and Chaffey College. On these campuses students can earn certificates and degrees in avionics and/or aircraft mechanics. Read More →

Several high school districts in San Diego and Imperial Counties are working to provide their students with practical, hands-on education in sustainability.

To help develop and strengthen clean energy career and educational pathways at high schools throughout the area, the San Diego Miramar ATTE Center has contracted with Strategic Energy Innovations (SEI) to provide support through its program, Energize Schools. Read More →

In some high schools, it’s not uncommon for the cars that students work on in auto repair classes to be older than they are. Two faculty members from Cerritos College are working to change that in the Compton Unified School District.

Automotive instructors David Roper and Joe Mulleary are helping Centennial High School and Dominguez High School apply for National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) accreditation. Read More →

Since 2011, four community colleges from the Los Angeles area have partnered to deliver customized workplace training and education to municipalities and transit agencies statewide.

Together, they have developed curricula, fostered industry relationships, and met the immediate training needs of municipalities and public transit agencies statewide. Beyond providing critical training to students, this partnership is an example of how community colleges can work together and harness their collective power to achieve shared goals.

The multi-college collaboration began in 2011 when El Camino College received multiple contracts from the Employment Training Panel (ETP) to deliver workforce training programs to municipalities seeking to deploy advanced transportation and alternative fuel technologies. Read More →

Photo credit: Mark Bealo, Palomar College

As drones continue to become more popular for business and personal use, the demand for professional drone pilots and the need to educate the public on how drones should be used has never been greater.

A group of educators and industry professionals in the San Diego area hopes to increase awareness and promote career opportunities this summer at Palomar Drone-Con. The conference will be held July 6 at Palomar College in San Marcos.

Conference organizer Wing Cheung, Department Chair of Earth, Space and Environmental Sciences at Palomar College said he hopes the event will help strengthen partnerships in an area that has been called the “undisputed drone capital of America.” Read More →

San Bernardino Valley College Heavy Duty Vehicle/Diesel Program Lab

San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC), through its Heavy Duty Vehicle/Diesel Program, has joined the Southern California Regional Transit Training Consortium (SCRTTC), a non-profit organization of 46 community college and transit agency members now statewide.

As an SCRTTC member, the college will be positioning itself to become a workforce training provider to the region’s public transportation agencies.

“We have developed a proven track record of successfully initiating innovative methods and collaborative means of developing and delivering transit specific training,” said David Stumpo, SCRTTC Executive Director. “As a member, SBVC will have full access to our development teams and committee structure, including subject matter expertise.”

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As the state of California moves to more sustainable energy sources, municipal fleets and transits have often been early adopters of Alternative Fuels Vehicles (AFVs) and Electric Vehicles (EVs) in order to meet emission standards. Consequently, municipalities are often in need of AFV/EV training.

Due to the advancement of hybrid and electrical vehicle technologies and their related operational systems, various levels/complexities of electrical courses are always needed as electric vehicles become more prominent in municipalities. Read More →