CAR provides continuing education opportunities to new Honda R&D Americas associates

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The impact of education and research at The Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research (CAR) often reaches beyond students to benefit professional engineers employed in industry.

One example is last summer’s short course series customized for new Honda R&D Americas (HRA) associates as part of the company’s onboarding process. Delivered live at CAR, the three short courses covered Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals, Advances in Internal Combustion Engines and an Introduction to HEV.

Dan Nagashima, manager of Vehicle Integration - Engine R&D at HRA, pursued the idea of customized short courses after attending a presentation by CAR’s continuing education coordinator, Marianne Weber last spring. Nagashima worked with the CAR continuing education team to create a customized series of summer short courses that met the needs of new Honda associates.

“My hope was for new Honda associates who haven't taken powertrain courses in their undergraduate studies to get a fundamental overview,” said Nagashima. “After completing the courses, our associates attained the core concepts and terminologies of powertrains, so that they could onboard quicker in their new jobs.”

Additionally, the proximity between CAR and Honda allowed Honda associates to spend time at CAR’s facilities and interact with top researchers in their fields.

“It was also important for CAR to spend time with Honda and understand their needs prior to the short course series being developed,” said Maryn Weimer, senior associate director at CAR. “The needs assessment process allowed us to customize the series with content specific to the associates’ jobs.”

HRA engineer Adam Vosz participated in the three-day HEV course last summer at CAR. Vosz, a group leader within the Engine-Vehicle Integration team, said the experience provided insight into an area outside his normal work.

“The course provided a good refresher into the principles of hybrid technologies and concepts I don’t use on a day-to-day basis,” Vosz said. “The course simulation exercises were beneficial and clearly demonstrated the techniques and principles involving hybrid vehicles.”

Complimentary short course seats in CAR’s Distance and Continuing Education program are a benefit included in the CAR Membership Consortium - a unique program allowing industry to engage in original, highly leveraged pre-competitive research in automotive and transportation systems, which Honda is a member. These non-credit courses align with CAR’s graduate education program and research areas, but are modular with multiple delivery options, ideal for those looking to further their knowledge on a specific topic.

Nagashima confirmed that Honda plans to continue and expand the summer short-course series for their associates.

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