University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science | 2025 Dean's Report - Flipbook - Page 32
INSTITUTE HARNESSES EXPERTISE ACROSS UC TO SOLVE
PROBLEMS FOR GLOBAL COMPANIES
UC’s Industry 4.0/5.0 Institute is a collaborative platform bringing together
industry, researchers, and students to create innovative solutions to help
high-tech industries address complex problems. Industry 4.0 — or the fourth
industrial revolution — is the integration of advanced technologies into
manufacturing, creating “smart factories.” Industry 5.0 is the next step,
focusing on collaboration between humans and machines to create more
sustainable and socially responsible manufacturing processes.
Professors Manish Kumar and Sam Anand created the institute to facilitate
partnerships between business and academia in areas like design and
BEYOND BACHELOR’S DEGREES: CEAS TRAINS
PROFESSIONALS FOR EMERGING TECH FIELDS
engineering. The institute supports projects that are selected by the board
and led by an industry champion who provides direction and feedback for
researchers. Businesses include Procter & Gamble Co. and Siemens.
One institute project is creating an interactive digital model of a factory
College of Engineering and Applied Science faculty have recently been awarded funding from the
floor using augmented reality to improve safety and efficiency. Another
NSF Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) program for two projects
project looks at trustworthy AI for autonomous vehicles in industrial
that address a growing need for skilled workers with varied educational backgrounds.
environments. UC is poised to help businesses solve problems due to the
university’s ability to harness talents of experts across campus. The institute
REVAMP TRAINS WORKERS FOR ADVANCED
MANUFACTURING JOBS
PROGRAM PREPARES COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STUDENTS FOR AI CAREERS
UC has initiated a new training and internship program aimed
Professor Justin Zhan, head of UC’s Department of Computer
at equipping nontraditional students with skills for careers in
Science, is leading a project to establish an experiential learning
advanced manufacturing. The Reskilling Education Via Advanced
pathway in Trustworthy Arti昀椀cial Intelligence. This initiative seeks
Manufacturing Practicum (REVAMP) program is geared towards
to address the growing demand for AI professionals by preparing
individuals such as military veterans, recent immigrants who
students for careers in Arti昀椀cial Intelligence. The program offers
are now American citizens, and those re-entering the workforce
two primary pathways: Direct Career Pathway, which offers an
after caregiving responsibilities. Participants receive training
eight-week training in AI to community college and high school
from experts in UC’s College of Engineering and Applied Science,
students to prepare them to secure internships and embark on a
followed by two semester-long paid internships with participating
full-time career in AI; and the UC Immersion Pathway, which grants
companies. The program is designed to address the growing
students entry into UC’s Computer Science degree program for
demand for skilled workers in Ohio’s high-tech industries. Ashley
comprehensive AI training and mandatory cooperative education
Paz y Puente, associate professor of materials engineering at UC,
(co-op) experiences with industry partners. Over three years,
is the principal investigator for the grant and is collaborating
the program will enroll 180 scholars, partnering with four STEM-
with several other UC faculty and Cincinnati State’s Workforce
focused community colleges and 昀椀ve industry-leading companies
Development Center.
to provide industrial experiential mentoring.
30
DEAN’S REPORT
is based in UC’s Digital Futures building in the Cincinnati Innovation District.
