JACME2T: an industry-academic consortia to enhance continuing engineering education

The three state Universities in Arizona (Arizona State University, University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University) and six of the largest, high tech companies (AlliedSignal, Boeing, Hughes Missile Systems, IBM, Intel and Motorola) have completed a Technology Reinvestment Program (NSF award 3518) which is now a permanent self-supporting consortia known as JACME2T (Joint Arizona consortium-Manufacturing and Engineering Education for Tomorrow). The Consortium is devoted to advancing university industry interactions-especially in life long learning areas. Overall direction is provided by a Policy Board of top industry, university and public sector leaders. Day to day direction is provided by the Technical Advisory Board, again comprised of industry and university managers. A central office is maintained at ASU and a branch office for Southern Arizona at Hughes Missile Systems in Tucson. Six curriculum development groups are developing/providing advanced level education at the noncredit, certificate and graduate levels in the following areas: manufacturing processes, IPPD, software, environmental, design and quality.