Feature Stories 2018: Winds of change

UMass Dartmouth, Bristol Community College, and Massachusetts Maritime Academy signed the Connect4Wind agreement. The agreement highlights our cooperative, long-term commitment to sharing resources and collaborating on the development of curriculum and programs centered on offshore wind energy, an important component of the Blue Economy.

Over the next decade, Massachusetts Clean Energy predicts that offshore wind farms will create nearly 3,000 jobs and generate economic impacts between $1.2 billion and $2.1 billion in the region. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates 43,000 new jobs will surface in the field by 2030.

The institutions will create innovative academic and training programs centered on developing highly skilled workers by sharing research, faculty, educational training facilities, and other resources, enabling students to participate in degree or non-degree granting programs at each institution.

"Offshore wind will be a cornerstone of a regional Blue Economy corridor that expands opportunities for people and communities across the region," said Ramprasad Balasubramanian, UMassD’s associate provost for decision support & strategic initiatives. "UMass Dartmouth looks forward to building this partnership with Bristol Community College and Massachusetts Maritime Academy to accelerate the development of the offshore wind industry through innovation."

Connect4Wind marks the first time the three institutions have entered into a cross-collaborative agreement of this kind.

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Viewpoint: Creating a "blue economy" on the South Coast