Northwest College has been awarded a $475,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to create a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) Technician Certification program designed to support regional workforce needs. According to a college release, this grant is part of the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Project, which promotes collaborations between academic institutions, industry and economic development agencies to improve the education of science and engineering technicians.

“I was thrilled to learn that NWC has been awarded this NSF-ATE grant,” NWC President Lisa Watson said. “In alignment with our strategic plan to innovate academic programming, expand grant funding, and support business needs, our faculty and staff collaborated closely to develop the Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) Technician Certification proposal.”

Northwest College has engaged with employers, industry experts, agencies and K-12 school partners to identify curriculum needs. The certificate will be an exciting addition to NWC programming and is envisioned as a stackable credential to various other academic programs. It will offer beginning, intermediate and advanced courses, with opportunities for a paid internship or work-based learning experience.

Students will learn the basics of flight, including the responsibilities and ethics of drone ownership, as well as the technical and programming needs for flight management systems, weather planning and GPS. The knowledge and skills acquired through the RPAS Technician Certification will allow students to pursue multiple career pathways in an emerging field that encompasses industries as diverse as agriculture, anthropology, business, criminal justice and the physical sciences, which could include opportunities unique to the Greater Yellowstone region.