Since 1979, the SME Education Foundation has been one of the leading non-profits dedicated to the advancement of manufacturing education.
In September, the SME Education Foundation received a finalist award from Automation Alley for having the “Best Education Program of the Year.” The award honored the Foundation for its dedication to the advancement of grades K-16 manufacturing education – specifically for the Gateway Academy program and providing more then $29 million to youth programs, scholarships and awards.
The program competition invites students from a number of premier North American engineering programs to write technical papers addressing the metallurgical industry. The goal is to strengthen awareness of Italian technology and innovation within various metalworking-related engineering research and education programs of the participating schools.
“The program will allow North American mechanical engineering students to experience Italy’s new metallurgical technologies and marketing strategies first-hand,” said Paola Bellusci, trade commissioner of the ITC-Chicago office. “In addition, Italian metalworking machinery manufacturers will have the opportunity to showcase their technology in action to these future decision-makers and end-users.
The competition is open to students in junior, senior, or graduate-level degree programs. Eligibility will be determined by faculty at each university based on grade point average, transcripts and co-op program activities. The submitted papers must relate to topics on either technical innovation in metalworking machinery, the manufacturing industry, or innovation in material applications for the metalworking industry.
The faculty may decide to integrate this competition into current academic courses, allowing students accreditation for their work. Each university program director/co-coordinator will select one student paper for submission to SME-EF, whose panel of judges chosen in accordance with guidelines established by the ITC and UCIMU, will make the final selection of papers that best exemplify the criteria established by these two organizations.
Winners will be awarded a trip to Italy in June 2006, which will include tours of Italian metalworking machinery manufacturers’ offices and facilities, a visit to ITC headquarters in Rome and/or UCIMU’s offices in Milan. The trip will be hosted by the ITC and UCIMU and chaperoned by organization representatives. Upon their return, students will submit a summary of the program and its impact on their engineering education. The winning papers will be officially announced in mid-April, 2006.
About the ITC:
The Italian Trade Commission, Trade Promotion Section of the Consulate General of Italy, is a government agency entrusted with promoting trade, business opportunities, and industrial cooperation between Italian and foreign companies. Headquartered in Rome, where it is known as Istituto nazionale per il Commercio Estero (ICE), it operates through 100 branch offices in over 80 countries and helps foreign and Italian companies develop business partnerships. Visit www.italtrade.com/usa.
About UCIMU-SISTEMI:
The UCIMU-Sistemi per Produrre, the Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machine Tools, Robots, Automation Systems and Ancillary Products, protects the interests of the industry. It promotes the growth and spread of an entrepreneurial culture through the supply of services that are constantly updated to meet the requirements of the companies operating in this sector. Visit www.ucimu.it.
About the SME Education Foundation:
The Education Foundation of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers is one of the nation’s leading non-profit organizations dedicated to advancing manufacturing education through college and university grants, scholarships, fellowships, and student outreach programs. The Society of Manufacturing Engineers created the SME Education Foundation in 1979 as a means of transforming manufacturing education in North American colleges and universities. Since 1980, the Foundation has invested more than $19 million in cash, grants, scholarships and awards - more funding than any other professional society. Visit www.sme.org/foundation.
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If you have any questions or comments, please contact the SME Education Foundation by phone (313) 425-3300, e-mail foundation@sme.org, or Fax: (313) 425-3411