Southern Crescent Technical College’s Henry County campus in McDonough is seeing widespread growth in a variety of fields, Students who wish to further their education at SCTC have dozens of categories to choose from.

One area that is seeing increased interest is mechatronics and industrial systems technology. Students in that department learn math, inspection, safety, quality, electrical systems, automation, mechanical systems, fluid systems, rigging and welding.

“Mechatronics is a combination of electrical, mechanical, electronics and electrical control, electromechanical control systems that are used heavily in industrial equipment,” said Dr. Mahmood Azhar, who heads up the department. “People who are experts in this area of education can get jobs as mechatronics technicians, where they are able to identify and troubleshoot and fix equipment that is used for controlling the industry systems like robots and other things.”

The program in its present form is relatively new, although various aspects have been around for quite some time, according to Dr. Azhar, who has been at SCTC for four years.

“It is an area of education in which you can say the individual pieces were there, but the integration of all of these different types of technologies into a system as well as a component level is something which is recent.”

The mechatronics program has been in operation at SCTC for nearly a decade, and it is now offered at most technical colleges around the country.

“They realize that engineers and technicians who are familiar with the complete system are more important to employ rather than just individuals, because everything is now integrated into electrical, electronic systems, wireless communication, Wi-Fi, internet and everything is all together,” said Dr. Azhar. “So, a person who is familiar with all these areas of technology is going to be a great asset for companies. Almost 90 percent of the colleges around the country now have this program.”

Students can choose from several options that include a small certification program up to a four-year degree. Once the course of study is complete, there is no shortage of Georgia companies looking to hire qualified applicants in this field.

“We are seeing many new companies coming into existence which are specifically in some ways dealing with transportation of a variety of different products. They have sorting stations, they have conveyor belt systems, they have control stations where they sort and redirect the pieces of mail and equipment toward different directions in the country,” said Dr. Azhar. “So big trucks come in and out, and there are all sorts of automated equipment that works in sync – to collect and sort things that go into different trucks traveling in different directions.”

The demand for technicians who are proficient in electrical, mechanical and other areas is continuing to grow, especially as manufacturing plants upgrade their equipment and add newer technologies.

“Then they need a mechatronics expert,” said Dr. Azhar, who added that he expects the need to continue to grow as technology keeps improving, saving companies money in the long run.

Another department at SCTC that is gaining in popularity – and will be in demand as long as people drive vehicles – is automotive technology. Seth Massey is a full-time instructor at the Henry County campus, and a part-time instructor was added recently because of the need.

“It is growing so much,” Massey said of the program. “When I started here in October of 2023, I had eight students. Now there are 45 students here on campus.”

As one might expect, the automotive technology program covers virtually everything involving repair and maintenance of a vehicle.

“I tell everybody, ‘From bumper to bumper, sunroof to tires,’” said Massey. “Transmissions, electrical, air conditioning, brakes, steering and suspension, stuff like that.”

Students of all ages are training at the facility so they can get into this career field. Massey’s youngest student right now is a 16-year-old who is dual-enrolled while still in high school, and the oldest in the class is in his 50s.

There are six different certificate programs at SCTC in automotive technology, including an entry-level automotive fundamentals program and an associate’s degree program. A student can attend from two to five semesters depending on the kind of degree or certificate that is desired. The associate’s degree can be obtained in a year and a half.

“My job here is to get them in, get them trained, get them out, and get them a job,” said Massey.

The school helps with placement for these graduates, with contacts at large automotive dealerships and smaller mom-and-pop repair shops around the region. Currently there is an apprenticeship program in Henry County’s facilities maintenance and fleet department that only accepts SCTC students.

The automotive industry is constantly changing, especially with the implementation of computer technology, and instructors as well as students at SCTC have to stay on top of the latest developments. But they are keeping up to date on vehicles from all eras.

“We don’t just work on brand-new vehicles,” said Massey. “Right now, I have a 1967 Ford Ranger, a 1965 Chevrolet Nova, and a 1975 Chevrolet pickup truck out here. I teach them the old stuff and the new stuff.”

More information about mechatronics, automotive technology and any of the other fields of study at Southern Crescent Technical College can be found at sctech.edu.

By Monroe Roark