Texas Engineering Jobs Training Nets $1 Million
A new round of funding will help prepare students for future Texas engineering jobs.
The Texas Workforce Commission recently announced that it will invest $1 million to expand statewide student participation in robotics education programs. The training will prepare youths to work in an increasingly competitive global economy by promoting programs that integrate science, technology, engineering and math into classrooms.
"Exposing more young Texans to science, technology, engineering and math, and continuing to emphasize these core subjects in our schools, will help accelerate the pace of our high-tech education in Texas," Gov. Rick Perry said. "This investment will strengthen our state's future workforce and contribute to making Texas even more competitive."
The FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge, two of the most prominent robotics programs, are supported by businesses throughout Texas. The programs immerse students in science and technology through competitions to design, build and program robots using engineering principals and a sports model of teamwork and competition.
"The FIRST Robotics Competition and the FIRST Tech Challenge enable students to apply their learning and build their problem solving skills in a hands-on manner that is exciting and fun for them," Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott said. "Today’s announcement marks yet another highlight in Texas' ongoing commitment to high-quality STEM education."
There are currently 133 Texas teams registered to compete in those competitions during the upcoming tournament season. The funding will increase participation during the next year by supporting up to 250 new teams and more than 2,500 new students.
"It is important to inspire the future workforce to be science and technology leaders," Texas Workforce Commissioner Andres Alcantar said. "This investment in robotics combines the excitement of sport with the acquisition of science, engineering and technology skills that will help to mold our future innovators."
In addition to funding from the Texas Workforce Commission, Perry recently announced a $160 million initiative to expand the number and scope of STEM academies and scholarships throughout Texas.