Quinsigamond Community College has secured a $300,000 investment from Saint-Gobain North America to build out an advanced manufacturing center as part of the college’s new multipurpose facility scheduled to open next year.
The three-year partnership pays for laboratory and classroom furnishings and equipment for QCC’s advanced manufacturing program, allowing the college to expand hands-on training and incorporate computer science, engineering and robotics into its curriculum.
In recognition of the investment, the space within the future QCC Center will be named the Saint-Gobain Advanced Manufacturing Center at QCC.
The partnership pairs the community college’s workforce training programs with an international manufacturer that has longstanding ties to Central Massachusetts, as QCC seeks to prepare students for increasingly technology-driven manufacturing jobs.
“This partnership with Saint-Gobain reflects our shared commitment to education, innovation, and hands-on learning,” QCC President Luis Pedraja said in the college’s announcement. “By investing in our students, we are preparing the next generation of skilled professionals who will shape the future of manufacturing in Central Massachusetts and beyond while building a strong pipeline of talent for employers across the region.”
The new manufacturing space will be part of the larger QCC Center, which the college says is scheduled to open next year. The multipurpose facility will include advanced manufacturing classrooms as well as student engagement areas, a gymnasium and dedicated space for QCC’s hospitality program.
Saint-Gobain North America and CertainTeed President and CEO Mark Rayfield said in the announcement that developing a skilled workforce is increasingly important to the manufacturing industry.
“At Saint-Gobain, we know that the future of manufacturing depends on investing in people and creating pathways to rewarding careers,” Rayfield said. “Our partnership with Quinsigamond Community College reflects our commitment to strengthening the workforce, advancing innovation, and supporting hands-on learning experiences that prepare students for success in modern manufacturing. We are proud to support the Saint-Gobain Advanced Manufacturing Center at QCC and help equip the next generation of talent with the skills needed to drive our industry forward.”
For QCC, the investment is also intended to bring the technology students encounter in the classroom closer to what they can expect to use after entering the workforce.
“Saint-Gobain’s extraordinary investment in our Advanced Manufacturing Program represents a transformative opportunity for our students and our region,” Dennis Dean, dean of QCC’s School for Computing & Applied Technologies, said in the announcement. “This support will help ensure that QCC graduates are equipped with the skills, technologies and hands-on experiences needed to succeed in today’s advanced manufacturing workforce. We are deeply grateful for Saint-Gobain’s confidence in our students, faculty and future.”
The $300,000 commitment will be spread over three years. QCC said partnerships with companies such as Saint-Gobain are helping equip the new center while expanding opportunities for workforce development and hands-on education.
“We are proud to partner with organizations like Saint-Gobain that help create opportunities for students while strengthening the workforce of tomorrow,” Pedraja said in the announcement.
