The University of Connecticut and University of Rhode Island recently announced that they were awarded a joint contract to reinforce workforce development initiatives in partnership with General Dynamics, the company that operates naval submarine builder Electric Boat in Groton, Conn. The new contract will help provide training to work at the Navy Maritime Industrial Base, as part of the “Advancing Naval Careers through Higher Ed. Outreach and Research” program, or ANCHOR, through UConn’s regional campus at Avery Point according to the announcement.
“By working alongside URI and General Dynamics Electric Boat, we are not only advancing naval engineering and skilled trades but also inspiring a pipeline of talent to meet the demands of this vital sector,” said JC Zhao, dean of the UConn College of Engineering, in a press statement.
The new access will allow both UConn and URI to further education in marine trades and as part of the Navy STEM Coalition, which integrates related career-based training in K-12 education as one possible STEM pathway for area students to consider. The coalition reports that they’ve engaged with over 13,000 students as part of the coalition in the last three years. ANCHOR announced that the new contract will allow both schools to offer innovative summer courses for coalition-member students and integrate related education for undergraduate engineering students at both institutions and fund extra research fellowships.
“Through targeted summer programs in engineering and skilled trades, we are committed to preparing students for careers in the submarine industrial base,” said Dr. Alexandra Hain, a UConn professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, in the announcement. “By offering partial and full scholarships, along with free options, we’re dedicated to inspiring and equipping the next generation of talent, breaking down barriers to ensure that a skilled workforce is ready to meet the unique demands of submarine production and innovation.”
The program also announced that the coalition has established a partnership with the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology to provide funding for further education for those employed by Electric Boat and the Navy to come to UConn or URI for graduate school.
“The ANCHOR program demonstrates the power of public institutions investing in their local communities and their student body,” said Electric Boat manager of workforce development Sean Morrone. “Partnerships like this create a sustainable impact on the economic growth and community well-being of our region.”
UConn Avery Point hosted a launch event to commemorate the program on Thursday, April 3 at the Branford House, which featured officials from both UConn and URI in addition to the U.S. Navy and General Dynamics. UConn hopes that the ANCHOR workforce program can serve as a model to be adopted nationally, the launch event webpage says.
Southern New England is a hub for marine industrial activity, with Electric Boat operating three facilities alone, including its headquarters in Groton, design and engineering offices in New London and a fabrication plant in Quonset Point, Rhode Island — supplementing the Navy Maritime Industrial Base in New London. UConn and URI co-founded the Navy STEM Coalition in 2017 in partnership with the Office of Naval Research and the National Defense Education Program as part of the two school’s longstanding relationships with the regional maritime industry.