Manufacturing Institute President Carolyn Lee and Texas State Technical College Chancellor Mike Reeser shake hands after signing the partnership agreement on Oct. 22, 2026. (Emily Harter/Community Impact)
The Manufacturing Institute, or MI, and Texas State Technical College, or TSTC, have partnered on a new program that will help educate students on ways artificial intelligence can be integrated into manufacturing.
TSTC and MI officials formalized the partnership to bring the Manufacturing Institute's AI Skills for Manufacturing Training Suite to Texas at a ceremony on Oct. 22.
About the program
The program will provide manufacturing students at TSTC with instructional materials that show how AI can be integrated within their field to prepare them for the future of the industry when they enter the workforce.
Surveys show that over 50% of manufacturers are using AI in their operations, but less than 20% have AI training in place, which is where the AI Skills for Manufacturing program comes in, said Carolyn Lee, president and executive director of the MI.
"We know that every employee doesn't need to be an AI expert, but having awareness of what the systems are operating in the background, to understand how to interact, how to not be worried, but also to know 'Where does the human need to step in?' was evident, and that's why we wanted to help fill that gap by building this training," Lee said.
TSTC Chancellor Mike Reeser said he believes this program will be important for students to prepare for the workforce in the new age of AI.
"AI has already launched the next industrial revolution," Reeser said. "TSTC is really proud to be in partnership with the Manufacturing Institute to prepare both the incumbent and the future workforce for those prosperous jobs that will result from this new economy."
Related highlights
The MI presented a $50,000 check to the Lone Star Chapter of The Texas Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education, or FAME, an initiative that helps give hands-on experience to students through its partnership with TSTC.
FAME Lone Star Chapter President Jason Dinscore said the donation will help them invest in marketing to grow their chapter.
"This chapter is strong," Dinscore said. "We are doing very well. We are innovative. We come up with a lot of things outside the box. So, I'm very proud of that."
Manufacturing Institute President Carolyn Lee presents FAME Lone Star Chapter President Jason Dinscore with a check for the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education Program at Texas State Technical College on Oct. 22, 2026. Emily Harter/Community Impact
Notable quote
Lee said that she believes AI is going to change every job, just as computers changed jobs, but having knowledge of how it works will be important.
"You don't know what all the jobs are going to be in 10 years, 5 years, with how the speed of all of this is going to go," Lee said. "But we know that having that fundamental awareness is going to be key."
