The RBC Foundation and the Heritage Classic Foundation announced a  $300,000 commitment over the next three years for the South Carolina (SC) Technical College System to support workforce development and skills training across the state. The news was shared at the 51st RBC Heritage Opening Ceremonies by Doug McGregor, Group Head, Capital Markets and Investor and Treasury Services, RBC.
 
The joint initiative will support Siemens Mechatronic System Certification Programs for faculty at South Carolina’s 16 technical colleges, helping expand the training and certification of these much-needed technicians across the state. This globally recognized certification program will allow for the training and preparation of skilled maintenance technicians for South Carolina’s growing manufacturing sector.
 
Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary field of engineering that includes a combination of mechanical engineering technology, robotics, electronics, computer engineering, telecommunications engineering, systems engineering and control engineering. As manufacturing equipment becomes more automated and technologically advanced, demand continues to increase for highly-trained and highly-skilled mechatronic technicians.
 
“Our goal at RBC is to empower young people with the skills they need to succeed in the jobs of tomorrow,” said Doug McGregor, Group Head, Capital Markets and Investor and Treasury Services, RBC. “That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with the Heritage Classic Foundation on this new initiative that provides a pathway for students to leverage their skills and experiences and translate them into high-demand, local jobs.”
 
The grant will fund the second level of faculty training in the Siemens certification program. The Siemens program provides comprehensive skills certification with a focus on system understanding, troubleshooting and problem-solving skills. It is renowned for producing well-grounded, trained individuals who can easily adapt to changing work situations quickly and appropriately.
 
The Siemens’ certification is a standard used by many of South Carolina’s well-known manufacturing companies including Boeing, BMW, Michelin and Bosch, among others.
 
“The SC Technical College System continuously collaborates with industry to best meet essential workforce needs. This partnership with the RBC Foundation and the Heritage Classic Foundation provides an excellent example of how our system strives to align our degrees and curriculum with community and industry needs,” said Dr. Tim Hardee, SC Technical College System president. “We look forward to working closely with our partners to train and prepare much-needed mechatronic technicians. Expansion of our offerings will help provide skilled workers - who are so important to maintaining and supporting the technologically advanced equipment at manufacturing facilities across the state.”
 
The Heritage Classic Foundation is the general tournament sponsor of South Carolina’s only PGA TOUR event, the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing. The mission of the Heritage Classic Foundation is to improve lives throughout the state of South Carolina.  “Funding the South Carolina Technical College mechatronics training program is twofold for us,” said Heritage Classic Foundation Chairman Simon Fraser. “It helps further educate Palmetto State students by providing the necessary skills they require for meaningful work. It also creates a skilled workforce that is vital to the success of many of our corporate partners across the state.”