BGSU only public university in Ohio providing microcredential training through state’s no-cost program 

The University is at the forefront of upskilling the manufacturing workforce through Ohio’s Individual Microcredential Assistance Program  

As Ohio’s manufacturing sector continues to advance technologically, Bowling Green State University is at the forefront of upskilling industry professionals to meet evolving workforce needs through a robust microcredential training program. 

BGSU is the only public university in Ohio providing training at no cost through the state’s Individual Microcredential Assistance Program (IMAP), which is funded by the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation. IMAP microcredentials, available to all Ohioans, are short-term, industry-recognized and technology-focused, providing in-demand skills to help individuals advance in their careers or transition into new roles.  

“As a public university located in the heartland of U.S. manufacturing, BGSU is ideally positioned to support the upskilling of an industry crucially important to the economic vitality of our state,” said MD Sarder, Ph.D., director of the BGSU School of Engineering, who is leading the IMAP program. “We worked directly with industry in developing these microcredential modules, ensuring that participants gain the in-demand skills that align with today’s manufacturing needs.”  

The modules currently available in the microcredential training program range from computer-aided manufacturing, quality production and supply chain design to management, process control, robot operations, additive manufacturing, and artificial intelligence and machine learning.  

BGSU engineering faculty, who have combined their academic pedagogy with industry experience to develop comprehensive and relevant coursework, teach the courses. To reach all learners, courses are self-paced and offered through online, in-person and hybrid delivery.

The modules support skill development through the presentation of theory, which is then reinforced through hands-on application. 

The experiential learning portion of the training is held at the eFactory inside the Stephen and Deborah Harris/RIXAN Robotics Laboratory on the BGSU campus. 

Sarder collaborated with the Center to Advance Manufacturing – a collaboration among BGSU, the University of Findlay and Owens Community College – and the BGSU Center for Regional Development in promoting the IMAP program. The foundation for the BGSU IMAP program began with a microcredential program developed and led by Sarder in 2024 through a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.  

The program, Advancing Regional Talent in Smart Technology Enabled Manufacturing, offers similar courses aimed at upskilling the current manufacturing workforce and also seeks to build a pipeline of high school and community college students interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.  

During opening remarks at the BGSU State of the Region conference in March, Ohio Rep. Josh Williams applauded the University’s commitment to broadening educational access and career opportunities through IMAP training.  

Williams was a nontraditional student who said his first experience on a college campus was transformational, lauding the value in extending that opportunity to all Ohioans.  

“My life changed when I found education,” Williams said. “You never know. That 30-year-old who was married and never thought he’d go to college is going to step on this campus in the pursuit of a microcredential, and he’s going to fall in love with education. Your next doctor, next lawyer or next engineer is going to be a nontraditional college student who started because BGSU embraced change.” 

Enrollment in the first three BGSU IMAP sessions, held from June to August, reached capacity, indicating strong regional demand for this type of training. Additional sessions will be offered in the spring and summer.  

“We have had an incredibly positive response to this program, which demonstrates our reputation for providing high-quality education and the strong demand regionally from employees who are seeking the knowledge needed to thrive in advanced manufacturing,” said Steve Russell, associate vice president of corporate partnerships and executive director of the Kuhlin Career Hub.

Based on industry input, BGSU plans to expand the portfolio of offerings in the future to include additional in-demand areas such as business management and public health. 

For more information or to inquire about additional training, visit www.bgsu.edu/workforce