Advanced Technological Education

The Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program from the National Science Foundation (NSF) focuses on enhancing the education of technicians in advanced technology fields that support the U.S. economy. The program emphasizes partnerships between two-year institutions of higher education (IHEs) like community colleges, secondary schools, industry, and government agencies. Its goal is to improve technician education, develop workforce-ready skills, and promote the retention and completion of educational programs. ATE supports projects that enhance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning outcomes for students and teachers, helping them meet industry demands and advancing STEM-related careers. ATE offers four funding tracks. *Track 1: Small-Scale Projects* provides up to $475,000 over three years, designed for smaller or early-stage efforts and institutions with limited prior experience with the ATE program. *Track 2: ATE Projects* offers larger awards of up to $1,000,000, supporting comprehensive improvements in technician education. *Track 3: Consortia for Innovations in Technician Education* fosters collaborations among two-year IHEs, with awards ranging from $1.2 million to $3 million over 3-4 years, focused on addressing new challenges, such as technological convergence. Finally, *Track 4: ATE Centers* establishes long-term centers with $7.5 million in funding over five years (with a potential renewal for an additional five years), focusing on systemic educational reform and leadership in specific technological areas like advanced manufacturing or environmental technologies. The program targets a range of technical fields, including micro- and nano-technologies, cybersecurity, energy technologies, and artificial intelligence (AI). Special consideration is given to projects that broaden participation, including recruitment of veterans and students with disabilities, or that focus on rural communities. NSF requires that developed courses be credit-bearing and encourages institutions to align them with industry needs through internships, apprenticeships, and field experiences. ATE also promotes partnerships with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and other national industry collaborations to ensure alignment with workforce demands. Eligible applicants include accredited two-year and four-year IHEs, state and local governments, tribal organizations, non-profit research institutions, and for-profit businesses. However, two-year IHEs are expected to take leadership roles in all projects. If other institutions lead the project, two-year faculty must be designated as co-principal investigators. Institutions may not use the program to support health, veterinary, or medical technician education, and projects focusing only on pathways to four-year degrees are not eligible. Proposals must be submitted through NSF's Research.gov or Grants.gov systems by October 3, 2024, with annual deadlines thereafter. Proposals should detail clear goals, activities, and evaluation metrics aligned with workforce needs and must also include sustainability plans to ensure continuity beyond NSF funding. Additionally, applicants are encouraged to use open licensing for materials and software to promote wider dissemination. The review process includes merit-based evaluation focusing on intellectual merit and broader impacts, ensuring projects align with NSF's mission to enhance STEM education and workforce readiness. Awards will be administered through NSF’s standard grants and cooperative agreements, with regular reporting requirements. The NSF encourages early engagement with ATE program officers to refine project ideas, especially for those seeking to develop collaborative or center-based proposals. All awardees are required to participate in the annual ATE Principal Investigator Conference and must archive deliverables with ATE Central to maintain access beyond the grant period.