Wallace State Community College, part of the Alabama Community College System, announced the launch of a new initiative that will harness the power of virtual reality to train thousands of workers for roles in diesel tech jobs. Delivered through the college’s Diesel by Distance program and collaboration with learning startup TRANSFR, the partnership will expand access to career-relevant training. The program will also help thousands of working adults launch careers in the industry of diesel technology.
Dr. Vicki Karolewics, president of Wallace State Community College, says diesel technology is an industry facing a shortage of talent. Through next-generation training, Karolewics says the college can help meet employers’ needs and help those in search of work. Integrating simulation-based technology in the program helps generate interest in the program and, in general, careers in diesel tech, she explains.
WORKING SIMULATIONS
Diesel by Distance will now feature virtual reality simulations that recreate the working environment of a diesel technician or mechanic. In the simulations developed by TRANSFR, students learn, practice, and master skills that are essential to maintain diesel engine vehicles. Because many employers require certified technicians, the program helps expand career opportunities for workers interested in pursuing diesel technology careers.
Alabama is one of several states facing a shortage of certified diesel technicians and mechanics qualified to service diesel-powered vehicles.
The industry has recently faced challenges of new equipment, changing standards, and a growing percentage of technicians reaching retirement age. To keep pace, the industry will require approximately 200,000 new technicians and mechanics over the next 10 years. According to the Bureau for Labor Statistics, employment opportunities in the industry are growing fastest among workers with college-level training. Meanwhile, diesel technology training programs only produce about 3,500 graduates yearly, according to the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.
“The trucking and commercial transportation industry keeps our communities safe, healthy, fed, and connected, but none of that is possible without the highly trained technicians that keep our fleets on the road,” says Mark Colson, president and CEO, Alabama Trucking Association. “At a time when the need for skilled diesel techs is growing, the Diesel by Distance program will create the pipeline of well-qualified talent that our industry needs. The use of VR has brought the real-world experience of diesel tech into the classroom, ensuring students can be ready to get to work on day one.”
DIESEL BY DISTANCE
Diesel by Distance combines self-paced coursework and online training, enabling students to earn a certificate or degree in diesel technology. Students in the program can study from anywhere while participating in paid apprenticeships, allowing them to earn while they learn. The Department of Labor’s WORC grant provided a portion of the program’s funding in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission. Wallace State will also collaborate with the National Institute for Women in Trades, Technology & Science. The collaboration aims to recruit aspiring female technicians, helping them upskill for work in an industry where women experience underrepresentation. The National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program will help provide the funding for this effort.
“All skills gaps are local, and what we’ve heard clearly from industry is the need to augment traditional classroom instruction with the first-hand work experience that so often only on-the-job training can offer,” says Bharani Rajakumar, founder and CEO of TRANSFR. “As a true partnership between educators and industry leaders, Diesel by Distance has bridged the gap between work-based learning and classroom instruction, accelerating pathways to good-paying jobs for thousands of workers.”
Further, in partnership with the Alabama Trucking Association and diesel trucking and automotive employers, students will receive job placement assistance. This will ensure that graduates can smoothly transition directly into diesel tech jobs after completing their training.
Find out more, visit www.wallacestate.edu/dieselbydistance.
Photos courtesy of Wallace State Community College
