AIM and PennWest Partner to Launch Plastics Injection Molding Degree ProgramAIM and PennWest Partner to Launch Plastics Injection Molding Degree Program
The partnership will address increasing demand for skilled workers in the injection molding industry by providing students with a fast-track path to education and career success.
January 15, 2025

The American Injection Molding Institute (AIM) is partnering with Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) to develop a new concentration in plastics injection molding under the university’s Associate of Applied Science in Applied Technology (AAS-AT) degree.
According to the partners, this collaboration will address the increasing demand for skilled workers in the injection molding industry by providing students with a fast-track path to education and career success in the field.
A partnership for success
Dr. James D. Fisher, provost and vice president for academic affairs at PennWest, expressed excitement about the new partnership.
“We are thrilled to partner with AIM to provide students with an accelerated path to academic success,” he said. “This collaboration underscores our dedication to recognizing real-world skills and enhancing career opportunities for learners.”
The program offered will give students an industry-focused curriculum designed to prepare them for a variety of roles in the injection molding field. Graduates of AIM’s ANSI/ASTM-accredited programs will also be able to apply up to 25 Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) credits toward their degree.
Program highlights
The curriculum combines AIM’s hands-on training with PennWest’s academic coursework, offering students a well-rounded education in both the theory and practice of plastics injection molding.
AIM’s coursework will cover topics such as plastics materials, mold design, injection molding processing, part design, and Autodesk Moldflow simulation. PennWest’s coursework will complement this by preparing students for careers in roles like process engineer, product designer, project engineer, tooling engineer, and more.
A key feature of the program is the use of AIM’s state-of-the-art injection molding lab, where students will receive practical, hands-on experience while attending courses either in-person or online at one of PennWest’s multiple campuses.
The program’s instructors include experienced plastics engineers with backgrounds in design and manufacturing, ensuring students receive world-class training. AIM’s programs are the first in the plastics injection molding industry to be accredited to the ANSI/ASTM E2659 education standard.
Career advancement opportunities
Graduates of the program will not only earn their AAS-AT degree but will also receive multiple certifications that will help them stand out in the job market.
These include:
ANSI Accredited Plastics Technology & Engineering (PTE) certificate
ANSI Accredited Molding 1 certificate
ANSI Accredited Molding 2 certificate
Autodesk Moldflow Associate certification
OSHA-30 certification
“The unique structure of this degree improves workforce readiness and the ability to drive innovation by combining rigorous academic instruction with practical hands-on experience,” said David Hoffman, director of the AIM Institute.
The program is set to launch in the fall of 2025, although students can begin completing AIM coursework immediately.
With this new program, AIM and PennWest are positioning themselves to help bridge the skills gap in the plastics injection molding industry and support the next generation of manufacturing professionals.
Headquartered in Erie, PA, the AIM Institute provides education and training to the plastic injection molding industry.
PennWest provides accessible education that cultivates career-ready, life-long learners and leaders who enrich and engage each other, their communities, the region, and beyond through innovation, academic excellence, and empowering environments.
Those interested in this opportunity may contact Dr. Peter Kuvshinikov at [email protected].
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