Join us on Tuesday, March 16, 2027 for NFPA's outreach & recruitment event at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCAT), one of our 13 Power Partner Universities. This exclusive event gives NFPA member companies the opportunity to connect with engineering students interested in careers in fluid power through an informational session, networking dinner, and roundtable discussion. Approximately 60 students are expected to attend, including members of NCAT's Fluid Power Club and the Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge team.
NCAT has made a significant commitment to expanding fluid power education and preparing students for careers in the industry. Beyond participation in the Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge and an active Fluid Power Club, the university continues to grow hands-on learning opportunities throughout its engineering curriculum.
In case you missed it, NCAT launched a new course called "Introduction to Fluid Power Systems,” a 3-credit course made possible by a grant from the NFPA Education and Technology Foundation. Developed by Dr. Paul Akangah, this course provides students with foundational knowledge in fluid power systems, including hydraulics, pneumatics, component selection, system design, analysis, and automation, while addressing seven core competencies identified by NFPA member companies. The impact of the course will extend beyond NCAT. Materials are now available free of charge to schools nationwide through the Fluid Power Curriculum page on the NFPA website. In the future, Dr. Akangah aims to establish a Fluid Power Concentration at NCAT, with additional courses like Fluid Power Control and Industrial Communications Systems. Read the full article here!
This growing investment demonstrates both strong student interest in fluid power and NCAT's commitment to increasing the number of graduates equipped with the knowledge and hands-on experience needed to succeed in the fluid power industry. For NFPA member companies, this event offers an opportunity to meet a pipeline of students who have already been exposed to fluid power technologies and are actively preparing for careers with companies like yours.
Each participating company is encouraged to bring up to two representatives—ideally one HR/recruiting professional and one technical or engineering representative—to maximize student engagement.
Date: March 16, 2027
Time: 4-8PM ET
Register
If you have any questions, please contact Haley Nemeth at hnemeth@nfpa.com. Additional event details will be shared after registration.