OSU Institute of Technology has entered a collaboration with Rose State College and Tulsa Community College on behalf of the Aerospace and Cybersecurity Center of Workforce Excellence to provide educational courses to Oklahomans.
"OSUIT believes there is a great opportunity for this collaboration with Rose State and Tulsa Community College to grow and advance the aerospace industry in Oklahoma," said Charles Harrison, associate vice president of Workforce & Economic Development at OSUIT. "We are ready to meet the aerospace industry's workforce needs by providing expertise and educational development."
The purpose of the partnership is for OSUIT, Rose State and TCC to engage in a collaborative effort to develop and deliver a non-credit certification bridge program for individuals who desire to transition from non-aviation engineering fields to aerospace engineers.
"This partnership between Rose State, Tulsa Community College and Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology represents an enormous opportunity and benefit for the aerospace industry throughout Oklahoma," Rose State vice president of External Affairs Tamara Pratt said. "The Aerospace and Cybersecurity Center of Workforce Excellence is meant to be a collaborative effort between educators and industry partners to advance this vital sector of the Oklahoma economy, and we are well-positioned to make an immediate impact as we launch our efforts."
OSUIT's involvement with the Aerospace Expansion Program stems from OSUIT's Department of Defense - U.S. Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment grant that funds the Industrial & Aviation Technologies Training Center in Okmulgee.
"As part of OSUIT's IATTC mission, we entered into a collaborative effort with Rose State College and TCC's Aerospace and Cybersecurity Center of Workforce Excellence to develop training programs that would increase the talent pool for Oklahoma's Aerospace and Defense Industries and keep talent in Oklahoma," said Harrison.
According to the Southwest Ledger, Oklahoma is ranked as the 10th largest aerospace market in both public and private sector aerospace companies across the nation. With more than 1,100 aerospace business entities, as well as the largest commercial and military maintenance, repair and overhaul depots in the world, Aerospace and Defense (A&D) is Oklahoma's fastest-growing industry sector and second in size to only the energy sector.
Under the terms of the agreement, OSUIT is responsible for curriculum development and recruiting highly qualified instructors. The instructors chosen have over 30 years of combined experience in the mechanical and aerospace engineering field.
"OSUIT WFED staff is currently working collaboratively with an aerospace industry partner and the instructors we that we recruited, to develop the curriculum and course content that will result in the participants having a specific set of defined abilities upon program conclusion," said Harrison.
The bridge program will be conducted within the Center of Workforce Excellence, located at Rose State College in Midwest City, beginning June 22. The six-week course is a total of 48 hours and will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
For more information or to enroll in this training program, visit admissions.osuit.edu/register/AXP1.