Marion Tech's National Science Foundation – Advanced Technological Education (NSF-ATE) Virtual Reality

Bringing Virtual Reality to Advanced Manufacturing:
Preparing Rural Technicians for Tomorrow's Factory Floor

Development

In an innovative effort to modernize advanced manufacturing education, Marion Technical College (MTC) is incorporating virtual reality into its Smart Manufacturing program. This initiative gives students hands-on-style experience with advanced automation equipment, so they build familiarity before they ever touch the real thing, while expanding access for rural students pursuing engineering technology careers.

Key Features of the Artificial Intelligence Project

VR-Integrated Curriculum: Virtual reality modules built directly into the existing Smart Manufacturing engineering technology program.
Advanced Automation Training: Simulated experience with autonomous mobile robots, vision-enabled robots, and collaborative robots — the kind of equipment found in a semiconductor manufacturing clean room — as a hands-on complement to physical equipment training.
Instructor Training: VR technical training for both college and high school instructors.
Workforce Training Pilot: Licensed VR-based advanced manufacturing modules piloted as a tool for regional workforce training.

Project Objectives

Build on MTC's existing engineering technology programs, focusing on Smart Manufacturing, by incorporating virtual reality into the curriculum.
Increase students' ability to work with advanced automation equipment typically used in a semiconductor manufacturing clean room.
Provide VR technical training to college and high school instructors.
Increase enrollment and retention of rural students and women in engineering technology degrees and certificates.
Pilot licensed VR-based advanced manufacturing modules as a workforce training tool.

Shaping the Future of Advanced Manufacturing

This initiative addresses a growing need for skilled advanced manufacturing technicians by pairing immersive VR training with hands-on equipment experience, expanding access for rural students while strengthening the regional manufacturing workforce.

Join Us!

Whether you're a student, an educator, or an industry partner, MTC invites you to help modernize manufacturing technician education. For more information, contact us or visit our Smart Manufacturing Technology program page.

Program Contact