College Receives Continued Funding for Welding Education Center
Published 03.10.2009
Pennsylvania College of Technology received a grant to continue as a project-team member in establishing the National Center of Excellence in Welding Education and Training (Weld-Ed).
Penn College is one of eight regional partners for the National Science Foundation project, which began in 2007 and is led by Lorain County (Ohio) Community College.
Penn College is using its $37,890 portion of the 2008-09 NSF grant funding for the center to present workshops for welding educators and the welding industry, to work with industry to develop internships, and to disseminate curriculum materials to high schools and community colleges. Penn College is leading Weld-Ed's development of a national career-pipeline system to ensure a smooth transition of students between high school to all levels of postsecondary education and the workforce.
The center was established in efforts to help alleviate the shortage of qualified welders in the workforce including welding technicians and engineers. It focuses on standardizing welding education by determining best practices, which it will use to develop welding curriculum. The center also provides professional development for welding educators and works with industry to ensure education is meeting workforce needs.
For more information about welding and other academic programs offered by the School of Industrial and Engineering Technologies at Penn College, visit on the Web or call (570) 327-4520. For more information about Penn College, visit online, e-mail or call toll-free (800) 367-9222.
For more information about grant-funding opportunities, faculty and staff may contact the Grants and Contracts Office at ext. 7562 or through its Web portal.