Key Takeaways

• Technical high schools across New England are equipping students with real-world mechatronics skills through hands-on training, industry-aligned certifications, and state-of-the-art equipment.
• Students from schools like Blackstone Valley Tech are excelling in regional and national skills competitions thanks to classroom experiences with Festo’s advanced training systems.
• Statewide initiatives and professional development opportunities, like those hosted by Mass Maritime Academy, are empowering educators to strengthen automation and Industry 4.0 instruction in their classrooms.

Across New England, technical high schools are growing mechatronics education and better preparing students for the advanced manufacturing workforce. From showcasing their talents at state and national skills competitions to participating in hands-on professional development workshops, students and educators are embracing technologies that define the modern industry. Most notably, a statewide initiative is providing students with comprehensive mechatronics training in technical high schools, laying a strong foundation for the next generation of technicians and engineers. Read on to learn more about these efforts.

Skills Competitions for Students

Led by engineering teacher Tim Oliveira, students at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School in Upton, Massachusetts, have excelled year over year in showcasing their mechatronics skills. They use the Festo MecLab Training System in class, challenging students to create automated systems. That training prepares them for student competitions in which they have proven their knowledge. 

Student teams from Blackstone Valley participated in the AET Labs Festo MecLab Redesign Challenge in 2024 and 2025. In 2025, students won the Massachusetts SkillsUSA competition and then went on to win gold at the National SkillsUSA competition!

Blackstone Valley was up against more than 50 students who competed in the mechatronics competition. They were tasked with building a mechatronics system using Festo’s factory-simulated training equipment, including the Festo MecLab, MPS, Fluid Power, Industrial Controls, Mechanical, and AC/DC systems. The MecLab challenged students to assemble, integrate, and program components to create an automated system that’s capable of completing a specific task.

Process Control Automation PD Workshops for Instructors

Mass Maritime Academy, a top-ranked university in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, has a nationally-recognized Operations and Controls Lab with process automation and controls training equipment. They prepare their cadets for careers in the Maritime industry as well as in the Life Sciences, with a focus on engineering systems required for power generation and management. 

Dr. Ashraf Omran, an expert in automation controls, runs the state-of-the-art lab. He held an Operational Control Lab Professional Development Workshop for high school instructors to help them teach their students about automation process and controls. Instructors used Festo Didactic training systems in the lab to get hands-on experience with valves, meters, PLCs, and more.

Mechatronics and Industry 4.0 Training Across Connecticut High Schools

The Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (CTEC) is at the forefront of mechatronics education in New England. 8 CTEC schools use Festo training equipment in their classrooms, and they are participating in the Festo Industry 4.0 Certification program, an industry-recognized credential accredited by NC3. High school students in Connecticut are getting hands-on experience in mechanical systems, fluid power, PLCs, and robotics. 

Explore How AET Labs Can Help Strengthen Your Mechatronics Teaching

These efforts reflect a growing momentum in workforce-aligned education across New England. By investing in student engagement and educator training in automation, technical high schools are creating powerful pathways to in-demand careers. AET Labs is proud to support these initiatives with the industry-relevant equipment, training, and guidance needed to make them successful. If your New England school is exploring ways to expand or enhance its mechatronics teaching, contact us to learn how AET Labs can support your goals.