A partner program between the University of Arizona and Arizona Western College in Yuma County providing college-level engineering education has received a boost – a five-year, $6 million U.S. Department of Education grant. 

It will enable the development of hands-on materials for renewable energy systems and other sustainability engineering training needed in the region.

The end result for both the UA and Arizona Western College, or AWC, is strengthened sustainable engineering systems programs that will benefit students statewide.

The engineering studies partnership, called the FUTURES Project, combines resources at AWC and the UA to offer a unique distance-learning program.

Students studying to be engineers and living in the Yuma area can spend their first three years studying at AWC, finishing their final year on the UA's main campus.