Successful Educational Partnership Expands to Bridge Associate Degree Programs with Engineering Degree Programs

摘要

The nation is experiencing a critical nuclear energy skilled worker shortage. The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) reports, "As much as 35 percent of the incumbent workforce may be eligible to retire within five years." (1) Consumption of electricity continues to increase. A 2007 Center for Energy Workforce Development report indicates an expectation for "electricity consumption in the United States to grow by at least 40 percent by 2030." (2) NEI estimates construction of more than 30 nuclear power plants over the next 20 years. This will significantly increase the demand for a skilled nuclear energy workforce (3) In 2000, NEI, on behalf of the U.S. nuclear industry, instituted a workforce initiative to mitigate anticipated skilled worker shortages. This effort led to the creation of the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Guidelines Program. (NUCGP) This work highlights the success of the NUCGP and presents effort to bridge the gap between two-year associate degree programs and four-year engineering programs. (4)