UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State College of Engineering has collaborated with Siemens Digital Industries Software to create a four-course microcredential series that will help better prepare engineering students for the workforce.
The Career Ready Series, supported by Siemens and housed within the Penn State School of Engineering Design and Innovation (SEDI), focuses on bridging the gap between education and industry. Course topics focused on a technical context include business fundamentals, inclusive teaming, project management and smart manufacturing.
Throughout these courses, Siemens provides subject matter experts and resources to supplement the content and faculty expertise. These courses are offered to any current Penn State student at no additional cost.
“These micro-credentials, developed in collaboration with industry partners, empower students to fully leverage their Penn State education and enter the workforce well-prepared,” said Meg Handley, associate director of engineering leadership development undergraduate programs and associate teaching professor in SEDI. “Through our microcredential format, students gain targeted skills in manageable increments, fostering networking opportunities with professionals and earning digital badges that highlight their industry-relevant knowledge and capabilities.”
According to Siemens, within the engineering industry, demand is growing for courses that can supplement traditional degree programs to cover emerging technologies, multidisciplinary subjects and interpersonal skills like leadership, communication and project management. Courses like these allow students to jumpstart their careers, Handley said.
“Siemens enriches our curriculum with real-world applications of career-ready skills,” Handley said. “They provide crucial context for understanding business concepts in technical settings, exemplify inclusive team dynamics and offer insights into daily project management practices crucial for engineers.”
Each course in the Career Ready Series in collaboration with Siemens spans four weeks and delivers 15 hours of coursework that blends online, self-paced learning with Zoom sessions led by College of Engineering faculty and experts at Siemens.
The series includes opportunities for students to connect with Siemens subject matter experts and get insight into the industry workforce. There are around 40 students enrolled in the inaugural series, which began July 8.
At the end of the fourth course, students will prepare a final group project that connects concepts across all four of the microcredentials and present to Siemens representatives.
Enrolled students earn a digital badge for each course and for the series. They also are entered into Siemens’ talent directory, which showcases to Siemens, its customers and partners the skills the students have gained and potentially opens doors for hiring opportunities.
“Industry must partner with academia to address the growing digitalization skills gap,” said Dora Smith, senior director of global academic and startup strategy at Siemens Digital Industries Software. “Colleges and universities need to align with both industry and technology providers to play a critical role in developing a digitally minded workforce. Through our collaboration with Penn State, we are helping to empower students with the mindset and skillset needed to drive digital transformation and give them the skills they need when entering a rapidly changing industrial work environment."
This initiative is part of a larger college strategic approach to innovative education in the form of certified microcredentials. This effort aims to support both students and professionals seeking to enhance skills to meet workforce demands. A list of current offerings for professionals can be found here.
For more information or questions about the Career Ready Series in collaboration with Siemens, emails can be directed to microcredentials@engr.psu.edu.