UNH Today

UNH will launch a pilot project in collaboration with New Hampshire’s community colleges and advanced manufacturing partners to address the workforce needs of the state’s advanced manufacturing sector.

The project is one of 27 supported by National Science Foundation’s INCLUDES program, aimed at enhancing U.S. leadership in science, technology, engineering and mathematics discoveries and innovations through a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

“We’re pleased to launch this unique partnership, which will also support low-income students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs at our community colleges,” said P.T. Vasudevan, UNH senior vice provost for academic affairs and the principal investigator on the $300,000 grant. “We believe working to support and retain low-income students currently in the degree programs that will help us to grow the pipeline of advance manufacturing workers will benefit not only students and industry leaders in the state but the state as a whole.”??

The pilot project will be a collaborative effort with the Community College System of New Hampshire, local advanced manufacturing businesses and the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs to address workforce development in the advanced manufacturing sector in the state.?The grant will provide mentorship, paid internships and job placement for students as well as work with businesses throughout the state.

Advanced manufacturing is the use of innovative technology to improve manufacturing products or processes. It’s a leading industry in the Granite State and a $1.7 trillion industry nationwide.

“This innovative project will leverage New Hampshire’s strengths to address the pressing need for in-state advanced manufacturing workers,” said Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), who announced the project on Sept. 11.

In 2009, Shea-Porter helped initiate New Hampshire’s Advanced Manufacturing Partnership in Education, which was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and has successfully helped New Hampshire businesses and colleges partner to invest in the state’s manufacturing workforce.