Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing

Abstract

Karen Wosczyna-Birch, a national award winning Professor of Chemistry, is the statewide director for Connecticut's College of Technology, which includes all 12 Connecticut community colleges, six universities and partner high schools including the technical high school system. She is also the executive director of the Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, a National Science Funded Advanced Technology Center, where she provides leadership for the advancement of manufacturing and related engineering and technologies. Karen also has expertise in providing professional development that includes strategies for the engagement and persistence of under represented populations in STEM disciplines. She has received awards from several organizations including the American Association for University Women (AAUW) for her work in addressing the need to increase females in engineering and technology fields as well as for her work in educating students with the skills required for the 21st century workforce.

Plotting A Bright Future For Manufacturing Education: Results Of A Brainstorming Session

“…Of course the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) hosts an annual conference and publishes the Journal of Engineering Education that include discussion on manufacturing engineering curricula. Several papers on the general subject of curriculum changes have been made recently 2,6,15,16,17 . In addition, the professional societies such as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE), and the international production research institute CIRP (College International pour la Recherche en Productique) have various groups and publications [18][19][20][21][22][23], that focus on education trends and relations with universities.…”

“…Several professional organizations (National Association of Manufacturers, National Council for Advanced Manufacturing, industry groups, academic groups, etc.) should work together on this.• Sponsor more conferences and meetings on manufacturing engineering education(17) It is recommended that the series of conferences focusing specifically on manufacturing engineering education be continued. It is hoped that the SME Manufacturing Education and Research Community (as well as CIRP and the Council of Manufacturing Engineering Chairs COMEC) can play a larger role in putting on these future events.…”