Technician Training Trajectories: Employment Outcomes of Advanced Technician Education Programs

• In Event: Poster Session 3
  In Poster Session: College Student Learning and Outcomes Poster Session 2

Abstract

The National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program supports two-year colleges around the U.S. in improving the quality of their technician education. While NSF ATE has supported development of postsecondary curricula, instructional materials, and state-of-the-art instrumentation; professional development for faculty; and private sector collaboration, little research exists on the outcomes for graduates of ATE programs. To fill this gap, the current research study surveyed (a) the graduates of five ATE programs in two STEM areas (biotechnology and process technology) and (b) employees in the same field who did not attend ATE programs about their training and employment. Some findings were similar across geographical and industrial divides, and demographic patterns within and across industries suggest areas ripe for future research.

Authors

• Sharika Bhattacharya, FHI 360

• Corinne Alfeld, FHI 360

• Mindy Feldbaum, FHI 360