ASU was among the first universities selected to partner with the new Foundry School program, which the Trump administration announced on Sept. 3. The initiative aims to train the next generation of engineers, entrepreneurs and industrial leaders.
President Donald Trump has made reindustrializing the U.S. a priority of his domestic agenda, and his administration has brought trillions of dollars in industrial investment to the country, the State Department said in a press release. The Foundry School seeks to turn that investment into employment.
The program will hold 17 lecture sessions across eight different campuses, led by founders and CEOs of advanced manufacturing enterprises.
ASU President Michael Crow joined Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other university leaders Thursday in Washington, D.C., for the announcement of the program. Select students from the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering attended the announcement, according to a University press release.
"This is about universities and industry working together to accelerate all things associated with enhancing workforce preparation, enhancement and competitiveness," Crow said in the press release. "ASU has been asked to be a part of this effort to help create the conditions to make sure the United States continues to be a global leader in driving the economy of the future, and we are glad to be of service."
According to a 2024 study by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, the U.S manufacturing industry may need as many as 3.8 million workers by the year 2033.
Kyle Squires, the dean of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, described the partnership as "a strong recognition of all that we've achieved" as well as a recognition of ASU's leadership role.
Squires emphasized the impact of the Foundry School partnership on ASU's advanced manufacturing and workforce development programs.
"We have great programs, we have great faculty, we have partnerships but we can network those more effectively," Squires said. "The Foundry School, that's a national effort. So, you have universities and partners all around the country networking together, driving curricula, that adds capacity, which means it creates more opportunity."
ASU has gained national recognition for its student employability and success in the workplace.
The newly formed School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks, a part of the Fulton Schools, has provided students with both degree-based and non-degree educational pathways to maintain the skills necessary for their success in the continuously developing manufacturing industry, said Binil Starly, the school's director.
Starly said the new partnership with the Foundry School is a way to amplify the existing programs within ASU.
With MSN offering programs that teach skills ranging from industrial automation to digital design, the Foundry School provides "more of an incentive to further expand our offerings," Starly said.
As the largest engineering school in the country with nearly 33,000 students, the Fulton Schools is stepping further into the spotlight as it works with the Foundry School to cultivate the next generation of industrial leaders.
"We cannot have billions of dollars invested without having the necessary talented, skilled people ensuring that this investment actually ends up being productive," Starly said.
Edited by Dhemi Bell, Carsten Oyer and Sophia Keeling.
Reach the reporter at eratwell@asu.edu.
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