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May 12, 2016White Bear Lake, MN – Century College is launching a new Associate in Applied Science Degree in Additive and Digital Manufacturing for the Fall Semester 2016. This two-year degree will educate and train students to meet the demands of a rapidly-evolving manufacturing environment.
“The Additive and Digital Manufacturing program was developed to help solve technical problems in today’s manufacturing environments,” states faculty member Scott Simenson. “Increasingly, our high-technology economy is dependent on having a supply of qualified and skilled ‘digital workers’. This program will give students the skill set needed in today’s high-tech manufacturing industry.”
As manufacturing has evolved over the past decade, an ongoing issue has been an extreme shortage of highly skilled workers. According to a recent research by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, the United States faces a need for nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs over the next decade and 2 million of those jobs are likely to go unfilled due to the skills gap.
This shortage is partially driven by outdated public perception and attitudes toward the manufacturing industry. Nine in 10 Americans surveyed (by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute) believe manufacturing is essential to the US economy, while only one in three parents would encourage their children to pursue a career in manufacturing.
“It’s interesting that the public perception of manufacturing has had such an impact on the number of available skilled workers,” shares Simenson. “The manufacturing industry is on the forefront of technology and engineering, and includes advanced, cutting-edge technology, such as the development of automated systems and 3D printing. People who pursue an education in digital manufacturing are being quickly employed in a high-demand, high-pay, exciting career.”
In addition, Century College students pursuing the new Additive and Digital Manufacturing degree will benefit from learning in a brand new, state-of-the-art, $1.1 million Engineering and Fab Lab space. Century College’s Fab Lab – A Center for Makers and Innovators, houses numerous digital technology systems, including laser technologies, electronics, and 3D printers, and will be adding manufacturing cells and robotic systems.
Simenson says, “The new Fab Lab directly connects with the College’s mission to inspire, prepare and empower students to succeed in a changing world. Our students will be trained and skilled and ready to make a difference in world.”
Learn more about the Additive and Digital Manufacturing degree.
Century College is located in White Bear Lake, MN and is one of the largest two-year community and technical college in Minnesota. Century College is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. Century College is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and educator.