US pork center of excellence receives grant
The US Pork Center of Excellence has been granted nearly $300,000 from the US Department of Education to implement the Professional Swine Manager/Technician Certification Program for community college students and pork production workers.
The grant, provided by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), will run from Jan. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2011, and will cover the implementation phase of the current project funded in conjunction with National Pork Board.
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The Professional Swine Manager/Technician Certification Program is designed to meet the industry need for consistent, research-based instruction on all phases of pork production.
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“This new grant fits well with our mission in terms of training and education,” says US Pork Center of Excellence (USPCE) Executive Director David Meisinger. “It complements the work of the Swine Science Online project, which involves four-year institutions, by allowing us to focus on two-year institutions and a certification program for all workers.”
Participants in the program may receive two types of certification: certified technician in breeding, farrowing, and/or grow-finishing, and certified swine manager. Courses will be broadcast in real-time to several sites throughout the country. Certification is obtained by successfully completing an on-line, proctored test. Certification and training records will be recorded by USPCE and National Pork Board in a database accessible to employers.
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