Establishing and Engaging Collaborative Partnerships for Sustainable Technician Training Project Implementation

Collaboration with industry and other partners is a critical component of many Advanced Technological Education (ATE) projects, including the Central Coast Partnership for Regional Industry-Focused Micro/Nanotechnology Education (CC-PRIME) project at Santa Barbara City College (SBCC). This project includes partnerships and collaborative efforts with various entities, including local industry, national ATE Centers, and regional business and community partners. Challenges around identifying partners and defining structures to engage with them on an ongoing basis are described as important lessons learned from the initial development of the project. Tools and resources are outlined for successful project implementation by connecting with industry through an existing and heavily utilized shared cleanroom facility, and National ATE Centers and other ATE-funded projects for access to shared resources and tools. Additional partners for potential awareness, outreach, and recruitment efforts are identified, and efforts to sustain collaborative initiatives with all project partners are outlined in the context of further expanding the local micro nanotechnology training opportunities in the future.