The partnership of Festo Didactic and Dobot Robotics at Skillsusa 2025 highlights an increasing accent on mecatronic education, as manufacturers are faced with critical skills shortages.
The engineering work pipeline continues to deal with the mounting pressure while manufacturers have trouble providing positions requiring advanced automation and mecatronics expertise. At 2025 national conference of leadership and national skills of skills In Atlanta (June 23 to 27), industry leaders respond with enlarged training initiatives which more closely reflect the realization of the real world.
Festo didacticThe educational arm of the German automation giant Festo, associates with a collaborative robotics manufacturer Tobot To present integrated training systems that fill the gap between academic learning and industrial application. Their joint exhibition presents the Meclab Cobot station, a complete platform designed to simulate various automation scenarios while providing practical experience with intelligent manufacturing processes based on AI.
Read the bar for a technical competition at Skillsusa
The Skillsusa mecatronic competition has evolved considerably compared to its first iterations, according to Alyssa Evans, technical support engineer at Festo and Mechatronics Technical Chair of Skillsusa.
“We work extremely hard to make sure that technical standards and best practices in the industry are aligned on the program and training necessary to guide students to compete here at Skillsusa,” said Evans. “I can't wait to be here every year because every year, the competition becomes more rigid.”
This year's competition challenges more than 50 secondary and college students to build complete mechatronic systems using simulated training equipment in Festo factory, including meclab, deputies, fluid power, industrial controls and AC / DC systems. Competitors must demonstrate a mastery of assembly, integration and programming – skills that directly translate into modern manufacturing environments where expertise in the integration of premium wage systems.
The jury reflects the serious investments of industry in the development of labor, featuring representatives of large manufacturers, notably Nissan, Denso and Toyo, alongside the automation specialists of providers of ATC, Reretech and Technical Education. This assessment led by the industry guarantees that students are measured in relation to current professional standards rather than obsolete academic references.
Strategic labor development initiative
Beyond competition, the event serves as a critical professional development platform for educators who will shape the next generation of engineers and technicians. Festo's partnership with the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) Offers train sessions in the fundamental principles of industry 4.0 and Bionics4 education, offering instructors recognized by industry with considerably reduced costs.
“The training of last year was such a success that Skillsusa not only invited NC3, but also widened the offer,” said Lisa Marshall, Festo program director at NC3. “This is a fantastic opportunity for instructors – in particular those who frequent skills for the first time – to obtain a certification recognized by industry at a considerably reduced cost while engaging with the best technical talents in the country.”
Industry 4.0 Reality skills
The collaboration between traditional automation leaders and emerging robotics companies reflects the requirements of skills rapidly evolving for modern manufacturing. With more than 30,000 certifications issued through Festo programs and 36,000 educational establishments equipped with parties worldwide, the extent of labor development efforts highlights the scale of the skills challenge faced with the engineering sector.
THE Festo Industry Certification Program (FICP) represents a strategic response to employers' requests for workers who can transparently integrate several automation technologies. As manufacturing becomes more and more digitized and interconnected, the ability to work through traditional disciplinary borders – mechanical, electric, software and data systems becomes essential rather than optional.
The winners of competitions of 2025 and 2025 will compete for positions in the team representing the United States in the Worldskills 2026 championship, highlighting the international competition for technical skills and the development of labor.
The partnership between established automation providers and the emerging robotics companies of Skillsusa 2025 reports an approach to technical maturation education – which prioritizes practical integration skills in relation to theoretical knowledge. For engineering professionals and educators, the event offers an overview of the way in which industry leaders adapt training methodologies to respond to increasingly sophisticated manufacturing environments.
While engineering workforce continues to evolve, initiatives like these provide a roadmap to develop interdisciplinary skills that will define the next generation of manufacturing professionals.
At Learnopoly, Finn has championed a mission to deliver unbiased, in-depth reviews of online courses that empower learners to make well-informed decisions. With over a decade of experience in financial services, he has honed his expertise in strategic partnerships and business development, cultivating both a sharp analytical perspective and a collaborative spirit. A lifelong learner, Finn’s commitment to creating a trusted guide for online education was ignited by a frustrating encounter with biased course reviews.