Trade School Expands Skills Training

UTI is adding 15 new programs, including robotics and industrial maintenance, to recent class offering additions that included electric vehicle repair and maintenance.

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UTI is adding 15 new programs, including robotics and industrial maintenance, to recent class offering additions that included electric vehicle repair and maintenance.
UTI is adding 15 new programs, including robotics and industrial maintenance, to recent class offering additions that included electric vehicle repair and maintenance.
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Trade school Universal Technical Institute (UTI) is adding 15 new training programs to its class offerings, including aviation, HVACR, robotics, industrial maintenance and wind energy. In February, the school added an electric vehicle maintenance training program to its curriculum. The new programs reflect the school's growth, as well as the demand from manufacturers and various industries for trained professionals in emerging technologies. 

"Through the disciplined execution of our growth and diversification strategy we continue to expand access to our industry-aligned programs," said UTI CEO Jerome Grant. "This is a boon for our students, our industry and investment community stakeholders. Expanding the breadth of our career focused training programs will give prospective students more choices in their post high school educational journey and will allow us to serve a broader population of learners and employers seeking strong workforce and training partners and solutions. Universal Technical Institute's longer-term strategic roadmap includes the MIAT program expansions and a more than doubling of the acquired business as a result. This, in addition to our recently announced intent to acquire Concorde Career Colleges, results in substantial increases in our estimated future revenue and profitability. As previously stated, we currently estimate that fiscal 2025 revenue will exceed $700 million with an estimated adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 20%."

UTI's new blended learning approach includes virtual learning and on-campus lab and classroom instruction.

Pending all regulatory approvals, the initial planned program additions are projected to begin launching in the second quarter of fiscal 2023, with the final planned programs launching by the end of 2024. The majority of the programs have received the necessary state and accreditor approvals, with approvals pending from the Department of Education for all programs, and also the Federal Aviation Administration for the aviation programs. 

Projected program launches include (listed in alphabetical order by campus):

  • UTI-Austin, Texas: HVACR
  • UTI-Avondale, Ariz.: Aviation
  • UTI-Exton, Penn.: Robotics and automation
  • UTI-Lisle, Ill.: Wind power, industrial maintenance
  • UTI-Long Beach, Calif.: Aviation
  • UTI-Miramar, Fla.: Aviation
  • UTI-Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.: Wind power, industrial maintenance and robotics and automation
  • UTI-Sacramento, Calif.: Wind Power, industrial maintenance and robotics and automation
  • NTI-Mooresville, N.C.: Robotics and automation
  • MIAT-Canton, Mich.: Auto and diesel essentials

Electrical Vehicle Repair and Maintenance

Earlier this year, UTI launched its Ford FACT (Ford Accelerated Credential Training) program on electric vehicle repair. The maintenance of high voltage batteries and electric vehicles have become essential to automakers like Ford, the school said.   

The new Ford EV curriculum will feature blended learning courses on High Voltage Systems Safety, Hybrid Vehicle Components and Operation, Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Components and Operation and an introduction to High Voltage Battery Service, as well as a Ford instructor-led class on Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Operation and Diagnosis.

"Ford has been working with UTI for more than 20 years to ensure our students receive state-of-the-industry training to prepare them for a rewarding, lifelong career in the transportation industry,” Grant said. "Demand for our graduates remains strong, and by staying at the forefront of new technologies like EV, we are building the workforce of tomorrow and supplying automakers like Ford with the skilled technicians they need to adapt to consumer demand."

Ford is providing a new PHEV vehicle to each campus so students receive hands-on training and virtual reality goggles that will be utilized in Ford’s training curriculum. This gives Ford FACT graduates the opportunity to achieve Ford’s High Voltage Systems Certification, in addition to the 11 certifications the program already offers. Ford FACT graduates also train in three additional certification pathways that require certain classes to be taken at a Ford training center.

Nine of UTI’s 14 campuses offer Ford FACT, a 15-week advanced training program that prepares students to work with Ford’s technology, computer diagnostics, electrical, gasoline and diesel technologies. Students are eligible to take Ford FACT after they successfully complete UTI's core automotive or auto/diesel programs. Since Ford and UTI launched FACT in 1999, more than 25,000 students have graduated from the program.

"Ford has been investing in building a pipeline of qualified technicians for years now, and our alliance with Universal Technical Institute allows us to do that through the Ford FACT program," said Elizabeth Tarquinto, Ford manager of technical support operations, North America. "The enhancements we’re making to the program ensure that Ford and Lincoln Dealers across the country will be able to find certified technicians ready to work on the vehicles of the future, and help them keep up with consumer demand for hybrid and electric vehicle service."

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