Macomb Community College And MAT² Apprenticeship Program Announce Partnership To Address Shortage Of Mechatronics Technicians In Region

Press release from Macomb Community College:

Macomb Community College and Michigan Advanced Technician Training Program (MAT²) announce a new partnership to expand MAT² mechatronics technician apprenticeships in Southeast Michigan to address the lack of technicians in the area. Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary branch of engineering technology that combines electrical, computer, and mechanical theory and practice.

“The employers we work with are telling us that there is a real shortage of qualitied mechatronics technicians in the area,” said Vikki Gordon, Ed.D., Apprentice Coordinator, Macomb Community College. “Our partnership with MAT² will support companies in finding quality candidates for their mechatronics apprenticeship programs and help them build a sustainable talent pipeline while providing residents with a pathway to an in-demand career.”

The program combines company-specific knowledge, theory and hands-on learning, with students earning while they learn. Students complete the three-year, employer-paid program with a debt-free associate in applied science degree from Macomb and a broad base of knowledge and skills applicable to many roles within advanced manufacturing.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to work with Macomb Community College, especially given their leadership and long experience in teaching mechatronics. Expanding our network of community colleges benefits companies and apprentices alike,” said Virginia Rounds, director of the MAT² Apprenticeship Program. “We have a number of MAT² Network Companies that are already looking forward to sending their apprentices to Macomb Community College.”

The MAT² Apprenticeship Program is one of the first programs in the United States benchmarked on the German Dual Education System. In this consortium-based approach, employers work together to recruit and train their next generation workforce in partnership with educational institutions.

The MAT² team assists with marketing the program to applicants and provides opportunities for employers to interview potential apprentices. They also assist companies in setting up and structuring their on-the-job learning, offer train-the-trainer courses and administer the international mechatronics exam for companies who want an independent assessment of what their apprentices have learned.

For more information on becoming involved in the MAT² Apprenticeship Program at Macomb, contact Vikki Gordon at gordonv@macomb.edu or Darlene Bidwell at bidwell@mat2apprenticeships.com.

This press release was produced by Macomb Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.