By Kelli Dugan | kdugan@al.com
August 14th, 2014
Mobile, Alabama – Bishop State Community College will soon offer new courses in lasers and fiber optics courtesy of a $10,000 grant and alliance with regional partners to promote high-tech fields.
Specifically, the college's electronic engineering technology program has partnered with both Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, Fla., and Laser and Fiber Optics Regional Center, also known as LASER-TEC, to expand its high-tech offerings.
LASER-TEC, also based in Fort Pierce, is comprised of community and state colleges, universities, high schools and technical centers, trade associations, and laser and fiber optic companies across the region and is funded by the National Science Foundation Advanced Technical Education Grant. Launched in September 2013, the grant program is designed to create a sustainable pipeline of qualified laser and fiber optics technicians to meet the industry demand across the southeast.
"Technical education exists to help students advance and business and industry overcome workforce development challenges. We can never be content with yesterday's technology, and we must continue to provide state-of-the-art facilities staffed with expert instructors in order to keep up with workforce demands and keep the Gulf Coast region a competitor in the global economy," Kathy Thompson, Bishop State's dean of technical education and workforce development, said of the partnership.
Click here to learn more about LASER-TEC.
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