The Diesel Technology program at NWKTC in Goodland, Kan., received a $40,000 grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation in order to purchase GPS management systems.
NWKTC will use the funds to develop and expand the Diesel Technology program with the addition of a global positioning systems component in the current curriculum. The GPS courses will mesh well with the electronic component curriculum that is already in place. The addition of training and expertise in this emerging technology will enhance the program's capabilities and lend yet another area of expertise to a graduating student's resume.
NWKTC is addressing the workforce needs in the diesel industry by establishing curriculum in an existing program to expedite opportunities for current and future students to enter high-demand occupations with diesel technology backgrounds in agriculture, transportation, and the construction industries. New high-skill and high-demand technologies are emerging faster than the workforce has trained technicians to support them. A geospatial technology such as GIS/GPS is one of the Department of Labor's 'high tech initiatives.' This means the DOL forecasts a heavy demand for persons that have these skills. This program is already successful in graduating students who enter the workforce with high-skill, high-wage and high-demand jobs. By developing an expanded curriculum, NWKTC will provide the necessary workforce to meet critical business and industry needs.
With the curriculum in place and the addition of specialized equipment, NWKTC is positioned for the expansion of the program beginning in August 2010.
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