Twelve Ivy Tech Community College instructors from across the state graduated from a two-week training program provided by Siemens International, one of the largest high-tech manufacturing corporations in the world. Instructors who attended the Siemens Mechatronics Systems Certification Program certified as Siemens Level I instructors, and they were recognized at a graduation ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 23.

Ivy Tech Columbus/Southeast Chancellor Chris R. Lowery and Provost Dr. Mary Ostrye attended the ceremony, along with representatives from Siemens. Siemens sent Certified Mechatronics Instructors from Germany to conduct the training session.

The Siemens Mechatronics Systems Certification Program (SMSCP) is an international comprehensive skills certification in mechatronics systems which equips workers with the specialized skills needed in precision engineering, mechatronics, medical technology and electronics-related industry sectors.

Students who are certified at Level I demonstrate that they have acquired the knowledge needed for systematic troubleshooting in an automation system and troubleshooting complex systems found in manufacturing environments. Emphasis is placed on efficiently operating complex mechatronic systems, troubleshooting and foreseeing problems. All students enrolled in Advanced Automation and Robotics Technology at Ivy Tech across the state will now have the opportunity to earn the Mechatronics/Siemens Certification. Students who secure Level 1 certification will further equip themselves with the industry-standard system skills that will make them even more competitive in today’s job market.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our faculty and students. Certifications are essential to ensuring our students are successful in their careers, and this training will provide our students with the opportunity to show future employers that they have the knowledge needed in the high-demand field of mechatronics, advanced automation and robotics,” said Dr. Mary Ostrye, Ivy Tech Community College Provost.

“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Ivy Tech. The Ivy Tech statewide Community College System will become the largest Siemens Mechatronics Systems Certification Program (SMSCP) educational partnership worldwide, with 17 SMSCP centers throughout the State of Indiana. We look forward to a fruitful partnership,” said Martin Stoeckmann, Director of Education and Training for Siemens Professional Education Region North/East.

Six Ivy Tech instructors will travel to Germany in the spring to certify as Siemens Level II instructors, which will allow Ivy Tech to offer Level II certifications in future semesters.

The Siemens Mechatronic Systems Certification training is funded by the Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Initiative to Promote Opportunities through Educational Collaborations. This grant was awarded to support the expansion of Ivy Tech’s Mechatronics and Advanced Automation and Robotics programs.

About Siemens Professional Education Berlin Siemens AG, one of the world’s largest high-tech manufacturing corporations, is a leader in complex technologies, particularly in complex systems integrating electrical, mechanical and computer engineering. The marriage of these three engineering fields is better known as mechatronic systems. With the increasing prevalence in which integrated mechatronic systems are being used globally, the expertise of Siemens AG is now available through the Siemens Mechatronic Systems Certification Program (SMSCP) which is developed by the Siemens Technik Akademie Berlin, Siemens’s own elite international technical college. Its aim is to offer graduates from overseas colleges or universities an industrial certificate which guarantees a world-class training standard.

Source: Ivy Tech Community College, Inside INdiana Business