A new Capital Region BOCES program being offered for the 2025-26 school year will provide high school seniors with the skills they need to succeed in the burgeoning semiconductor and hydrogen/fuel cell industry.
The New Visions: Emerging Technologies program was developed in collaboration with industry leaders Plug and the New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering, and Science (NY CREATES) and will ensure students gain cutting-edge skills and real-world insights, preparing them for immediate employment or for state-of-the-art apprenticeship programs in the industries.
“We are thrilled to once again be able to take the input of our business and education partners and create programming that will not only benefit students, but strengthen the local, state and national workforce,” said Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Director Jeff Palmer.
Specifically, the organizations are partnering to develop the New Visions: Emerging Technologies course, with NY CREATES and Plug assisting with the creation of a curriculum featuring specialized, focused content. Students who take the course will gain hands-on experience and theoretical knowledge in advanced manufacturing, mechanical and electrical systems, hydrogen safety and semiconductor processes. The program covers key topics such as fuel cell systems, pneumatics, automation, cleanroom protocols, and troubleshooting techniques.
The partners praised the collaboration as a key tool in building the future workforce.
“At Plug, we recognize that building the workforce of tomorrow starts with investing in students today. This partnership with Capital Region BOCES is an exciting opportunity to equip young talent with the specialized skills needed to thrive in the hydrogen and fuel cell industry. By providing hands-on learning experiences and industry-driven curriculum, we are helping to create a pipeline of highly skilled professionals who will drive the clean energy transition forward,” said Erin Lane, Vice President of Public Affairs at Plug Power.
Officials with NY CREATES, which is dedicated to fostering innovative chips-focused R&D, the expansion of technology jobs in New York State and the U.S., and related workforce development through industry-connected innovation and commercialization projects, said the program will ensure the region’s workforce can meet the growing demands of this essential industry.
“NY CREATES is proud to partner with Capital Region BOCES to support their emerging technologies program and develop the high-tech workforce of the future for the growing semiconductor-centered ecosystem. This partnership will offer students advanced training in chips R&D and trailblazing technologies, establishing a direct pathway to in-demand engineering careers,” said Dr. Robert Geer, NY CREATES Vice President for Education and Workforce Development. “By aligning continuing education with industry demand, we are ensuring that our workforce is not only prepared for today’s cutting-edge jobs but also equipped to lead the innovative industries of tomorrow.”
NY CREATES Educational Outreach and Workforce Development Manager Capri O’Hara said, “With the semiconductor industry alone projected to need an additional 300,000 skilled workers by 2030, partnerships like the one between Capital Region BOCES and NY CREATES are essential in closing the skills gap. By equipping students with hands-on experience and specialized knowledge in cutting-edge technologies, we are building the workforce necessary to meet the growing demand and ensuring our region remains at the forefront of the global tech economy.”
The New Visions: Emerging Technologies program—which is considered an honors-level course—is only open to seniors and is one of two new programs launching for the 2025-26 school year. A Plumbing Technology program is also being created and will join the New Visions: Emerging Technologies program in the new CTE Extension Center that is being constructed near the Career and Technical Education Center – Albany Campus on Watervliet-Shaker Road in Albany (town of Colonie). Six other programs are being expanded or moved and will also be housed in the 46,377-square-foot facility.
For information on the 28 other programs offered by Capital Region BOCES CTE, visit the BOCES website.