(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - The University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan campus has been awarded a 5-year $6.6 million renovation grant to transform the University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan Technical Center into the UAS Regional Maritime Technical Training Center. The intent of the renovation will be to create the premiere site in Southeast Alaska for training Alaska Native and rural Alaskans for high demand maritime and related occupations in state-of-the-art classrooms and labs with training simulators and equipment relevant to each occupation.

The completed Regional Maritime Technical Training Center will enhance the Marine Transportation program, the Maritime and Multi-Skilled Worker (MMSW) program, and associated courses including welding, diesel engine maintenance and repair, hydraulics maintenance and repair, refrigeration maintenance and repair, and marine electrical maintenance and repair with the goal of increasing the number of Alaska Native students in these courses.

The project will also incorporate upgrades and innovations to classroom technology across the campus to enhance learning experiences in e-learning courses for students living outside of Ketchikan. By upgrading and enhancing technology, students enrolled in certificate and degree programs that lead to occupations in maritime support industries, known as ‘shore-based’ occupations can stay in their communities while completing e-learning degrees. More Alaska Native and rural Alaskans will be able to enroll in these programs, stay in their communities and work towards an education that will lead to living-wage occupations.

UAS Ketchikan stated in a news release they respond directly to the educational needs of local and regional industries. With the launch of the new and innovative MMSW program in 2013, students receive an introduction to maintenance and repair of hydraulics, electrical systems, refrigeration, and diesel engines. The program was designed to increase the percentage of Alaska Native and rural Alaskans who complete postsecondary education in a way that encourages exploration of the many different career paths in various marine-related industries, teaches industry cross-over skills and still provides industry specific knowledge and skills.

The UAS Ketchikan Marine Transportation (MT) program trains mates, stewards, pilots and other types of mariners in a variety of courses. Both the MMSW and MT programs are projected to grow as the demand for more workers in the region grows and international mariner certification standards are increasing and evolving. Mariners both “above deck” and “below deck” will be required to be recertified to the new standards in the next three to five years.

Source of News: 

University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan campus
www.uas.alaska.edu/ketchikan

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