An Innovative Mechanical Engineering Technology Pathway Aligned with Industry Needs

As institutions of higher education strive to maintain effective and affordable educational pathways, innovative partnerships between associate and baccalaureate degree granting institutions can facilitate a student’s progress while maintaining close alignment with industry needs. This paper details the continuing efforts of a multi-year project between a two-year college, a university and industry that has resulted in the creation of well-aligned associate and baccalaureate degrees in mechanical engineering technology. These offerings represent new degrees for both institutions, as well as an entirely new department of engineering technology for the university that complements its already existing engineering programs. Both degrees are based on a strong alignment with industry-defined requirements that have been identified through on-site forums and engagement with a robust industrial advisory board. The degrees emphasize technical and non-technical skills and competencies crucial to the practice of advanced manufacturing disciplines by mechanical engineering technologists. The delivery of the requisite content will be reinforced by the use of an applications database that will directly link course contents with industry practice in a clear and effective manner. Additionally, the outlined associate to baccalaureate degree pathway will be delivered through an innovative “3+1” model in which the two-year college will deliver the first three years of the program, and the university will then deliver the final year, on the two-year college’s campus. This novel and innovative model will allow students to achieve a high-quality associate and baccalaureate degree in mechanical engineering technology for close to the cost of a single year at some institutions. Rigorous assessment methodologies have been included in both programs and will ensure the consistency of performance measures longitudinally between both institutions.