Connecticut community colleges add stackable robotics apprenticeship

Four community colleges in Connecticut are launching a stackable two-year apprenticeship program in advanced robotics, responding to demand for those skills in the state's workforce and around the country, the Hartford Courant reported. The program feeds into a four-year degree at Central Connecticut State University.A $217,000 grant from the nonprofit Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Institute as well as $130,000 from the state Department of Economic and Community Development will fund the purchase of five robots and 4,000 hours of apprenticeship training for 30 students during the first year.The grant proposal team included the University of Connecticut, the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, Central Connecticut State University, consultancy Connstep and digital technologies firm ABB.