Universal Technical Institute, Tasca Nissan host event to inspire students interested in automotive technology

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Universal Technical Institute (UTI-Norwood) has partnered with Tasca Nissan to highlight the value of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education to careers in the automotive industry and the opportunities for students seeking education in automotive technology.

About a dozen local high school students and their parents – including participants from Cranston and Johnston – attended the Future Tech night event on Dec. 4 at the Tasca Nissan dealership in East Providence. During the session, graduates of the Automotive Technology training program at UTI-Norwood shared their experiences and answered questions about what to expect from a career as an automotive technician. Service manager Allysa Migneault-Dichiara spoke to the students about opportunities at Tasca Nissan and the specialized training and skills today’s service technicians need, including professionalism, communication and problem solving, as well as knowledge of STEM.

Attendees also heard about the latest innovations in automotive technology and got to observe Nissan’s latest tools, technologies and computerized vehicle diagnostics.

“Repairing today’s car involves just as much time in front of a laptop as it does under the hood and technicians need specialized training,” said Scott Yagnesak, admissions representative at UTI-Norwood. “The reality is that recent advances in vehicles require that technicians are well-versed in science, technology, engineering and mathematics – and more importantly, can use that knowledge to problem solve.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, technicians with these kinds of skills are in demand: The nation will need more than 1.2 million automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine service technicians between 2012 and 2022. The industry will have an average of more than 37,000 job openings every year to help meet the need.

“The industry is facing a huge shortage of technicians and it’s becoming a big issue for our dealership. Finding technicians with the right educational foundation and skills is a difficult task and we look to UTI to help fill this gap,” said Migneault-Dichiara.

Migneault-Dichiara said she works closely with the UTI-Norwood campus to identify students in their Nissan Automotive Technician Training program, an authorized Nissan training program that gives students the opportunity to get specialized training on Nissan engines and electrical systems, work with Nissan tools Nissan tools and equipment, and to graduate from UTI with Nissan technician certifications.

“UTI’s Nissan program does a phenomenal job of preparing its graduates. They come here already trained on the tools and equipment we use at our dealership and with an understanding of the Nissan vehicle components and electrical systems so they’re ready to start working right away,” said Migneault-Dichiara.

In fact, Migneault-Dichiara said most of the technicians working at the dealership are UTI graduates.

“Our hope is that by hosting events like Future Tech, we can bring attention to a profession that is growing and the career opportunities at our dealership,” said Migneault-Dichiara.

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