Bloomfield, NJ (March 17, 2022) – Universal Technical Institute (UTI) is rolling out new curriculum in its Ford FACT (Ford Accelerated Credential Training) program to prepare its students to keep the next generation of vehicles on the road. Automotive technicians are in demand, and as the electric vehicle (EV) market continues to grow, those with knowledge of high voltage batteries and electric vehicles have become essential to automakers like Ford.
The new course, which will be incorporated into the curriculum at UTI’s Bloomfield, NJ campus, is another step in UTI's overall EV strategy, which includes enhancing its core curriculum, enhancing and offering new EV certifications in certain manufacturer-specific advanced training (MSAT) programs, and developing new training models and partnership opportunities to expand UTI's overall EV ecosystem. This course is also in line with New Jersey’s strong commitment to the EV marketplace and will help set the state up for success as electric vehicles become more prominent.
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 career training to help prepare them with skills prospective employers need,” said UTI CEO Jerome Grant. "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 and a set of virtual reality goggles to each campus so students receive hands-on training 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.
“We are grateful for our long-standing partnership with Ford and the opportunities they provide for our students,” said UTI Bloomfield Campus President Shawn Alexander. “This new curriculum will give graduates the training and skills they need to prepare for a career in the evolving automotive industry.”
Nine of UTI’s 14 campuses, including the Bloomfield, New Jersey campus, currently offer Ford FACT, a 15-week advanced training program that prepares students to work with Ford’s exclusive 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.
“At Wayne Ford we are extremely fortunate to have a very loyal and dedicated team. Some of our associates have been part of our family for 20, 30, 40 and even 50 years! However, we are always looking to hire technicians who can train and learn from our experienced experts and help us to continue to grow, especially as automotive technologies evolve” said David Nappa, President of Wayne Ford, and a UTI employer partner. “Our long-standing partnership with UTI has allowed us to hire dedicated and well-trained technicians and has eased the burden. The Ford FACT program offered by UTI is invaluable for training a qualified workforce of the future and the new electric vehicle curriculum will be crucial as the need for EV techs rises.”
Ford FACT is part of UTI’s Manufacturer-Specific Advanced Training (MSAT). For more information or to enroll, please visit www.uti.edu.
About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
Founded in 1965 and headquartered in Phoenix, Universal Technical Institute's (NYSE: UTI) mission is to serve our students, partners, and communities by providing quality education and support services for in-demand careers. Approximately 250,000 students have graduated from one of UTI's 14 campuses located across Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Texas. UTI's campuses are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), while its employer-aligned technical training programs are offered under four brands: Universal Technical Institute, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute / Marine Mechanics Institute, NASCAR Technical Institute, and MIAT College of Technology. For more information and a complete list of all programs offered, please visit www.uti.edu or follow on LinkedIn @UniversalTechnicalInstitute and Twitter @news_UTI.
