Alstom has partnered with colleges and universities in the US to support workforce development and transportation research as it expands activities in the North American rail sector.
The initiatives include the creation of an engineering scholarship fund in New York State, participation in a transportation policy advisory board in New York City, and sponsorship of a new transportation research programme in Pennsylvania.
The partnerships coincide with increased recruitment across Altom’s US and Canadian operations following a number of rail contracts secured over the past two years. As such, the company is hiring for manufacturing, operations, engineering and management positions.
Dani Simons, Alstom's Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs, Americas said:Modernising and expanding transit and rail has many benefits, including creating good American jobs. From high-school graduates who want to be skilled welders to master’s students who dream of building more energy efficient engines, we want more students to understand that this is a growing field and there are real opportunities to build a career and to be part of shaping the future of the U.S. rail industry.
As part of this announcement, Alstom will contribute 50,000 USD to establish an endowed scholarship fund at Alfred State College, part of the State University of New York system. The fund will support students studying engineering technology. Alfred State is located near Alstom’s manufacturing facility in Hornell, New York, and the two organisations have previously collaborated on technical education and workforce training initiatives.
Alstom has also become a founding sponsor of the Transportation Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania. The programme, led by former Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Leslie Richards, aims to connect academic research with transport policy and planning challenges faced by public agencies.
Leslie Richards, founder and director of the Transportation Initiative at Penn said:Alstom's partnership is invaluable as we work to bridge transportation research and real-world practice. Their experience on factory floors in Pennsylvania and across transit systems worldwide brings perspective that sharpens our research and informs our teaching.
In New York City, representatives from Alstom have joined the advisory board of New York University’s Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management. The centre conducts research on transport issues and brings together policymakers, industry representatives and academics to discuss developments affecting the sector.
Academic partnerships form part of Alstom’s longer-term focus on local manufacturing and workforce development in the United States.
Sarah Kaufman, executive director of the NYU Rudin Center said:Industry partnerships are key to advancing meaningful research and developing the next generation of leaders. Our collaboration with Alstom, which has a strong presence in New York, has brought real-world perspectives to our research, fresh ideas to our convenings, and hands-on opportunities for our students. We look forward to deepening this partnership in the years ahead.
Alstom has manufacturing facilities in New York and Pennsylvania, as well as offices in New York City and Philadelphia. Over the past year, the company has received orders for commuter rail vehicles in New York and New Jersey and has been involved in the production of high-speed trains manufactured in the US.
The company has delivered more than 12,000 new or refurbished rail vehicles for transit agencies across several major US cities and continues to provide rail services for multiple transport and airport operators nationwide.
