ARM Institute Endorses Four More Robotics Training Programs

The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing, or ARM, Institute today announced that it has evaluated and endorsed five more education programs. The ARM Endorsement Program identifies organizations that effectively prepare students for careers in manufacturing working with robotics.

“The entire ARM team congratulates our newly endorsed programs,” stated Lisa Masciantonio, chief workforce officer at the ARM Institute. “The diversity of our endorsed programs reflects the ample education and training opportunities that exist for manufacturing careers working with robotics. There are programs that give education seekers the industry skills they need in a variety of formats, award types, and program lengths.”

Founded in 2017, the ARM Institute is a public-private partnership with more than 300 members across industry, government, and academia. The Pittsburgh-based collaborative is supported by the U.S. Department of Defense and seeks to strengthen the U.S. industrial base and manufacturers of all sizes.

ARM Endorsement Program criteria

The ARM Institute launched its endorsement program alongside RoboticsCareer.org, which connects education seekers with manufacturing training. The program was conceptualized and created through the institute’s national consortium, giving equal voice to manufacturers, education providers, and government stakeholders.

The organization said it evaluated program alignment with robotics career pathways and competencies. It evaluated both organizations and their programs based upon the following benchmarks:

• Relevance to the industry
• Effective curriculum
• Efficiency of the training
• Impact of the program
• Program sustainability
• Transportability

To reflect the importance of a diverse education ecosystem, programs of all formats can apply for ARM Endorsement, from high schools and robot supplier programs to community colleges and traditional universities.

New programs exemplify educational excellence

The ARM Institute provided the following descriptions of each of the newly endorsed programs, which it said exceeded its evaluation criteria.

University of Maryland – Maryland Robotics Center: The Master of Engineering in Robotics program and the Graduate Certificate in Engineering program ensure continued research and development of robotic applications and contributes to the overall robotics ecosystem. The instructors allow for innovation in the program curriculum and attract industry and diverse students, said ARM. In addition, the curriculum examples show the level of knowledge, skill, and ability that graduates hold upon successful completion of the programs.

Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy: The CMRA SMART Robotic Technician I program is grounded in actual applications, and students learn through discovery and hands-on modules. The curriculum is adaptable for both high school and entry-level industry employees. The training program for teachers that implement the SMART program is best-in-class and ensures that teachers remain current in these technologies.

Clover Park Technical College: This program aimed at assisting industry by providing a knowledgeable workforce that can bring new ideas to fruition. The Mechatronics Engineering and Technology program attracts students to industry and prepares them for the life-long learning that will be required of their generation as technology continues to exponentially change and grow.

NC3: The National Coalition of Certification Center’s Certification Programs for Robotics, Mechatronics, Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Maintenance provide students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for success in today’s workplace. Each section of the program provides hands-on learning with certified instructors providing a level of competence in every graduate of the program.

ARM Institute adds to existing endorsements

Since introducing its endorsement program earlier this year, the ARM Institute had endorsed five programs:

• Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC)
• Horizon Science Academy Columbus High School (HSA)
• The Fortress Academy
• The University of Washington
• Universal Robots
• Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech)
• Wichita State University, Department of Engineering Technology

Endorsed programs are highlighted on RoboticsCareer.org, which lists more than 12,000 programs representing more than 1,900 organizations from across the U.S. and U.S territories. It includes programs ranging from high school STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and micro-credentials through Ph.D. degrees, delivered onsite, online, or in hybrid formats.