SFA’s CARRI announces partnership, engineering collaboration during specially called event

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Stephen F. Austin State University's Center for Applied Research and Rural Innovation announced a partnership with IPC International, the global association supporting the electronics industry, and IPC Education Foundation for a collaboration that bridges a gap between SFA's engineering program and industry needs. The specially called event was held Wednesday at the Cole STEM Building on the SFA campus.

According to Mary Ann Rojas, CARRI executive director, this collaboration with IPC closely aligns with CARRI's mission to leverage talent and resources to build better solutions for our community. Particularly, the collaboration addresses a problem engineering students face after graduation: lack of practical industry knowledge and experiences needed to succeed in an engineering career.

"What we're all working toward together is giving students the skills they need for industry as well as the experiences they need to thrive, working together in the electronics manufacturing industry specifically," Cory Blaylock, director of workforce partnerships at IPC International, said during the event. "There is a significant amount of growth in that sector, not only in the U.S. but specifically in Texas, and getting the students ready to take those jobs and work in that industry is important. At IPC, we are passionate about the power of education to change lives and build a stronger workforce. This is a perfect example of what partnerships like this can do."

The partnership provided select SFA engineering faculty members a four-day training session facilitated by IPC. Incorporating IPC's cutting-edge industry standards, faculty gained the credentials necessary to offer in-class experiences that prepare students for the manufacturing industry.

With the completion of this training, the next step is for SFA's engineering faculty to incorporate credentialling courses that will provide students the skills directly applicable to electronics, such as soldering, electronic assembly, and cable and harness fabrication.

To support this collaboration, Weller Tools donated soldering equipment to SFA's engineering program, which were utilized during the four-day faculty training. This donation will provide students with access to industry-standard tools and technologies, enhancing their hands-on learning experiences. The equipment also allows students to practice and refine their soldering skills, which are critical components of electronics manufacturing, and better prepare them for careers in the engineering industry.

"As a mechanical engineer coming into the training, my only involvement with soldering is playing around in the garage," said Dr. Christopher Aul, associate professor in SFA's Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy and participant in the training. "A good thing I learned through this is it's not a training to teach you about soldering. It's made to help you understand the standard and good methods to soldering."

"This training empowers us to empower out students." Aul continued. "It gives us something to attract the students."

Rojas initiated the collaboration between CARRI and IPC after learning that engineering students were landing jobs but struggling with day-to-day operations. She contacted Blaylock, who worked on drafting a special projects proposal to submit to CARRI.

"This is exactly what a regional comprehensive university should be doing," said Dr. Lorenzo Smith, SFA provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. "It is natural for us to connect with industry and make sure our students are well-prepared to not just have the knowledge they get from textbooks but to actually couple that knowledge with practical skills."

During the event, representatives from CARRI presented a check, which totaled a shade under $22,000, to cover the costs of the training sessions.

"This is truly a day to celebrate collaboration, innovation, training, persistence and everything that's required to make things happen for our university and our community," Rojas said during the event.

SFA established CARRI in fall 2021 to engage faculty, staff and students in research projects that support academic programs and boost regional economic development. Since its establishment, the university has awarded numerous scholarships to rural SFA students and stipends to faculty members for innovative research projects. It also was rated the top rural-serving higher education institution in Texas by The Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges in 2022.

For more information about CARRI, visit sfasu.edu/CARRI or email [email protected].