Bronx Community College's Patterson Garage. Photo credit: Jerry He (UTRC).
Technician training at Bronx Community College's Automotive Technology Program, and Waymo’s self driving vehicle. Photo (above) credit: Bronx Community College. Photo (below) credit: Waymo.
Waymo, the world’s leading autonomous driving technology company, is partnering with the University Transportation Research Center (UTRC) at The City College of New York to develop and enhance an Autonomous Vehicle (AV) training curriculum at Bronx Community College's Automotive Technology Program. This initiative aims to prepare the next generation of automotive technicians for the rapidly evolving field of autonomous vehicles.
This partnership will fund the development of an enhanced autonomous vehicle (AV) training curriculum, equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the rapidly evolving automotive industry and contribute to the growing AV workforce.
Dr. Camille Kamga, Grove School of Engineering professor and the director of UTRC and SEMPACT, emphasized: "As the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center, UTRC's Center for Social and Economic Mobility for People and Communities through Transportation (SEMPACT) is uniquely positioned to facilitate this partnership. This AV training curriculum bridges cutting-edge technology with practical workforce development, addressing real-world challenges in our communities."
“Waymo is committed to supporting educational and workforce development initiatives that prepare young people to succeed in the growing autonomous and electric vehicle industries,” said Waymo Vice President of Engineering Satish Jeyachandran. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with the Bronx Community College and the CUNY UTRC to provide hands-on experience with autonomous technology, and create new opportunities for the next generation of automotive professionals.”
This collaboration between Waymo, UTRC, and Bronx Community College (BCC) aligns with The City College of New York’s mission as the lead institution for the USDOT's University Transportation Center (UTC) program in Region 2. UTRC's SEMPACT received $15 million from USDOT to support research in areas including inclusive advanced technology applications and workforce development.
“I am excited to see this groundbreaking partnership between the world’s leading autonomous driving technology company and the University Transportation Research Center at The City College of New York,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “This collaboration will enhance the Autonomous Vehicle training curriculum at Bronx Community College's Automotive Technology Program, preparing our students for the future of the automotive industry. By equipping the next generation of automotive technicians with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in this rapidly evolving field, we are not only investing in our youth but also contributing to the growth of the autonomous vehicle workforce. This initiative is a testament to our commitment to innovation and workforce development in the Bronx.”
"Investing in emerging technologies and workforce development is key to preparing our community for the jobs of the future. This partnership between Waymo, Bronx Community College, and the University Transportation Research Center at CCNY is a major step in providing our students with the skills needed to succeed in the autonomous vehicle industry. The enhanced training program will not only open doors for Bronx students but will also strengthen our local economy by expanding job opportunities," stated New York State Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia.
"It is crucial for transportation regulators to embrace innovative safety-oriented technologies like automated vehicles as part of a carefully planned scaling of services. Retraining for-hire and taxi drivers, and welcoming new talent into the workforce will ensure a smooth transition that creates new career opportunities. This new AV workforce development curriculum at BCC is a great start to preparing for and managing innovation with social responsibility," said Matt Daus, former NYC TLC commissioner and UTRC transportation technology chair.
The program will be housed at BCC's Patterson Garage, which recently underwent a $9 million upgrade funded by the Governor's Office of NY. This state-of-the-art facility now offers courses in electronics, fuel systems, transmissions, electric vehicles, autonomous vehicle systems, and more.
Clement Drummond, director of Automotive Technology at BCC, envisions a transformative future through this collaboration: "From safety procedures to advanced diagnostics, our program already provides comprehensive automotive training. Now, through this groundbreaking partnership with Waymo, we're creating a unique ecosystem where industry meets education. While our students gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge autonomous vehicle technologies, Waymo's technical workforce benefits from our specialized curriculum. As the only program of its kind within CUNY, we're not just training technicians – we're preparing the next generation of autonomous vehicle specialists who will shape the future of transportation."
For more information about this partnership, contact:
Ashley Arocho (CUNY The City College of New York) at
aarocho@ccny.cuny.edu
, or
Richard Ginsberg (CUNY Bronx Community College) at
Richard.Ginsberg@bcc.cuny.edu
.
About the University Transportation Research Center (UTRC):
CCNY's University Transportation Research Center (UTRC) leads the USDOT Region 2 UTC, which includes New York State, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. UTRC focuses on research in transportation decision-making, advanced technology applications, climate-resilient infrastructure, and green supply chains, as well as education and workforce development.
About The City College of New York
Since 1847, The City College of New York has provided a high-quality and affordable education to generations of New Yorkers in a wide variety of disciplines. CCNY embraces its position at the forefront of social change. It is ranked #1 by the Harvard-based Opportunity Insights out of 369 selective public colleges in the United States on the overall mobility index. This measure reflects both access and outcomes, representing the likelihood that a student at CCNY can move up two or more income quintiles. Education research organization Degree Choices ranks CCNY #1 nationally among universities for economic return on investment. In addition, the Center for World University Rankings places CCNY in the top 1.8% of universities worldwide in terms of academic excellence. Labor analytics firm Lightcast puts at $3.2 billion CCNY’s annual economic impact on the regional economy (5 boroughs and 5 adjacent counties) and quantifies the “for dollar” return on investment to students, taxpayers and society. At City College, more than 15,000 students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in eight schools and divisions, driven by significant funded research, creativity and scholarship. In 2023, CCNY launched its most expansive fundraising campaign, ever. The campaign, titled “Doing Remarkable Things Together” seeks to bring the College’s Foundation to more than $1 billion in total assets in support of the College mission. CCNY is as diverse, dynamic and visionary as New York City itself. View CCNY Media Kit.