The General Motors Technical Education Program (TEP) and The University of
The 30 credit-hour graduate-level, multidisciplinary degree program was launched in September 2005. With coursework from more than 30 of the world's leading institutions, it focuses on subjects of most relevance to GM and the global automotive industry. The degree covers systems integration, product and manufacturing quality engineering, design for manufacturability, and global management systems. It also includes specialty areas in product engineering and manufacturing such as powertrain, vehicle electrical systems, and vehicle integration. The degree program culminates in a job-related GM-directed project that adds value to the corporation through cost savings, quality and safety enhancements, innovations and continuous improvements.
The graduate is a technical leader who can think, learn, and apply contributions to innovation and GM's sustainable competitive advantage. The courses are offered online in a "globally friendly" format and can reach GM employees anywhere around the world. Instructors use the latest adult learning theories and instructional design techniques. Nearly 300 GM engineers from around the globe are currently participating in the degree program.
A distinctive feature of the degree program is ownership by GM's top-level leaders. Gary Cowger, group vice president of Global Manufacturing and Labor Relations, and Jim Queen, vice president of Global Engineering, provide ongoing strategic and philosophical direction. Numerous GM subject matter experts also collaborate with university faculty to keep the global automotive curriculum focused on industry applications and cutting edge technologies aligned to GM's business needs.
Online learning has greatly progressed since 1992 when the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation began supporting institutions for online learning initiatives.
"The field of online education continues to show vigor and strength. Every year we see advances in the important matters of quality, scale and breadth within this still fledgling community," said Frank Mayadas, president of Sloan-C. "The individuals and institutions honored this year are recognized for showing exceptional leadership in advancing online education along these dimensions."
The purpose of the Sloan Consortium is to help learning organizations continually improve quality, scale, and breadth of their online programs, according to their own distinctive missions, so that education will become a part of everyday life, accessible and affordable for anyone, anywhere, at any time, in a wide variety of disciplines. Created with funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Sloan-C encourages the collaborative sharing of knowledge and effective practices to improve online education in learning effectiveness, access, affordability for learners and providers, and student and faculty satisfaction.
The Sloan-C Program Profile Award was selected by the Sloan Consortium editors: Dr. Tana Bishop of the University of Maryland University College; Dr. Melody Thompson of The Pennsylvania State University World Campus; Dr. Peter Shea of the State University of New York University at Albany; John Sener of Sener Learning Services; and Dr. Karen Swan of Kent State University.