Central Ohio Technical College was represented. Student Affiong Ibokette Hawkins introduced Intel’s CEO.

by Chan Cochran, for Welcome Intel Task Force

We’re two years away, but by then there will be a huge demand by Intel for employees with the basic educational background necessary to learn and manage Intel’s complex and challenging chipmaking process.

On the supply side, one of the most commonly asked questions in the Licking County Community is, “How do I get my (son or daughter) ready to hold one of those good jobs?”

Leading educational institutions in the county are seizing the opportunity, beefing up STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) and college level technology courses in anticipation of the coming demand.

Here are some of those offerings:

Newark City Schools

Newark City Schools students have the opportunity to attend a free summer STEM Camp open to students in Grades 2-12. Students learn coding, robotics, and other skills.

Newark has also reworked its library spaces into “innovation” and “maker” spaces where students are encouraged to tinker and explore.

STEM-focused programs also are embedded into classes from pre-school through graduation. Programs included STEM kits, Ozobots, Code.org, 3D printing, JASON learning, Arduino and others, depending on grade level.

Students also have access to STEM-inspired courses beginning with robotics in fifth grade, extending through pre-engineering in middle school, and computer science. engineering, and entrepreneurship classes in high school.

Newark students are being challenged to experiment and solve problems in STEM almost daily from the first day of kindergarten through graduation.

Interested parents should consult with teachers to make sure their children are taking to most challenging courses available.

 

Central Ohio Technical College

Intel’s announced plan to hire 70 percent of its Ohio workforce at the associate degree level draws welcome attention to the importance of COTC’s two-year associate degrees.

For COTC students and graduates, there’s major good news. Intel representatives have reviewed COTC’s electrical engineering technology associate degree and found that COTC graduates will be well-positioned for technician jobs with Intel Ohio.

COTC’s Associate of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering Technology is a two-year degree offering skilled training to complement a wide variety of industries and employers, including Intel. Classes include circuits, digital electronics, AutoCAD, project management and more. The degree is internationally accredited by ABET.

In addition to electrical engineering, COTC offers an Associate of Applied Science in Engineering Technology and a six-course Industrial Electrician certificate. Engineering technology graduates gain real-world, transferable skills in multiple areas in each program.

COTC offers four convenient campuses in Pataskala, Knox, Newark and Coshocton, plus online and hybrid course formats.

 

The Ohio State University at Newark

As part of The Ohio State University’s nationally ranked College of Engineering, the new Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology at Ohio State Newark will prepare graduates for careers in manufacturing leadership.

Only offered at Ohio State’s regional campuses, the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology includes hands-on lab experience and the opportunity to participate in undergraduate industry research. Coursework includes both mechanical and electrical engineering components, as well as a focus on leadership and the latest technology in automation and networking.

The first year of the engineering technology curriculum has been specially designed to prepare students for the engineering technology program or any other engineering major at Ohio State.

Salaries for engineering technology graduates average between $80,000 and $87,000 annually. The new program can be completed entirely at Ohio State Newark and will be available in autumn semester 2023.

COTC and Ohio State Newark offer more than $2 million in scholarships annually, making college an affordable option for a broad range of students. In Licking County, the Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority STEM Scholarship will provide financial assistance to students at COTC and Ohio State Newark who are from Licking County and pursuing STEM degrees. It will also benefit individuals who work at any business located on the Port Authority’s Central Ohio Aerospace and Technology Center campus and employees’ families.