The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center is a national partnership of community colleges, high schools, universities, informal educational organizations, research institutions, marine industries, and working professionals. MATE's mission is to improve marine technical education and increase the number of highly-skilled technical professionals who enter ocean-related occupations. In this project, the MATE Resource Center for marine technology education is 1) expanding and strengthening academic, industry, and professional society partnerships; 2) supporting institutions interested in developing or improving marine technology programs; and 3) conducting research, synthesizing, and disseminating comprehensive, up-to-date marine workforce information and helping partners align their curricula and programs with workforce needs. In addition, the MATE Resource Center conducts regional and international ROV (remotely operated vehicle) competitions that simulate the high performance workplace and build academic and industry partnerships. This project also offers faculty development institutes for high school, college, and university educators that focus on marine technology (including submersible technology, with a focus on ROVs; seafloor mapping and data collection; career awareness; ocean observing systems; and the marine applications of GIS) and improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. The national MATE internship program continues in this project, the numbers of underrepresented students participating in the program increases, and MATE products (including curricula, resource books, occupational guidelines, competencies, and procedural guides both in traditional formats and electronically) are disseminated through the Center's web site and www.OceanCareers.com.
The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center was established as an ATE Center of Excellence with funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) in 1997 and currently continues as an NSF ATE Resource Center. Headquartered at Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) in Monterey, California, the MATE Center is a national partnership of community colleges, high schools, universities, middle schools, informal educational organizations, research institutions, marine industries, professional societies, and working professionals. MATE’s mission is to improve marine technical education and increase the number of highly-skilled technical professionals who enter ocean-related occupations. Marine technology is vital to many aspects of our national economy. However, because the Department of Labor aggregates most land and ocean occupations, finding credible information about the ocean workforce is difficult. This presents a challenge for educational institutions trying to prepare students for the marine technical workplace. This project responds to this challenge by characterizing and researching trends in the ocean workforce, identifying the knowledge and skills that this workforce needs, placing this information in the hands of educational institutions at all levels, and working to ensure that curricula and programs are appropriately preparing students to meet workforce needs. MATE’s programs represent unique approaches to engaging students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning experiences and increasing the capacity and diversity of the nation’s technical workforce. As a Resource Center for marine technology education, the MATE Center: Expands and strengthens academic, industry, and professional society partnerships. The MATE Center works with more than 600 academic institutions and 150 marine industries. Supports institutions interested in improving marine technology programs and incorporating ocean applications into general technology programs. Researches, synthesizes, and disseminates comprehensive, up-to-date marine workforce information and help partners align their curricula and programs with workforce needs. Improves student learning in STEM through activities such as regional and international underwater robotics (remotely operated vehicle or ROV) competitions that simulate the high-performance workplace and build academic and industry partnerships. In 2011, more than 450 teams representing 3,000+ students and nearly 700 faculty registered to compete in one of the regional or international competitions. Offers faculty professional development institutes that focus on marine technology (including ROVs, ocean observing systems, and the marine applications of Geographic Information Systems or GIS), create an awareness of ocean-related careers, and empower instructors to deliver interdisciplinary, technology-rich learning experiences to their students. In 2011, MATE hosted or supported 65 professional development workshops and teacher programs. Conducts the MATE at-sea technical internship program and works to increase the numbers of underrepresented students participating in the program. In 2011, MATE placed 18 students in at-sea internships ranging from 2 weeks to 6 months. Disseminates MATE products, including curricula, textbooks, occupational guidelines, competencies, and procedural guides both in traditional formats and electronically through the Center’s web site and www.OceanCareers.com. Additionally, 719 copies of the 800+ page Underwater Robotics: Science, Design & Fabrication textbooks were sold (retail price is $99.95).
