The Electronics Technology program at Hawaiʻi Community College is undergoing some major changes, including new state-of-the-art equipment and a fresh curriculum to provide students with the skills they need to succeed in today’s tech job market. Electronic Technology instructor, Bernard “Chip” Michels, is leading the charge to redesign the program, which is being helped by a $96,000 grant.
“The emphasis in the program has been changed to be more industrial,” said Chip. “So the whole idea here is to focus more on the telecommunications and on the process and controls arena, or automation.”
It’s all part of an effort to give electronics students the skills they need to succeed in today’s job market.
PISCES has been working closely with Chip and HCC to provide paid internships to students during the summer, and credit-based projects during the semester. Last year, two HCC students in the ET program—Jack Andersen and Andrew Hasegawa—interned with PISCES in Robotics to apply their skills to the Helelani planetary rover.