STLE University opens for business
Edward P. Salek, CAE, Executive Director | TLT Headquarters Report January 2011
You’ll find industry-specific technical education that’s focused, flexible and accessible.
STLE University offers members and non-members the opportunity to experience the value of STLE’s different educational offerings, available in online and in-person formats.
Technical education is nothing new for STLE. This is an organization founded more than 65 years ago for the purpose of disseminating reliable technical information about tribology and lubrication engineering.
Last year STLE’s board of directors approved plans to build on that mission based on a member research project that emphasized two points. First, STLE is considered to be the foremost provider of noncommercial technical education to the field. The second point was a question: Why aren’t you doing more of it—especially in online format?
So as we head into 2011, the STLE University is open for business and providing the organization with a new way to pursue its mission and serve the field. In concise terms, STLE U is a personalized, centralized location for continuing education in the field of tribology and lubrication engineering. STLE U includes many different educational offerings available via online and in-person education. The online offerings include certificate courses, short courses and Webinars.
A certificate course is a complete, stand-alone education course that addresses various topics. The course is comprised of a varying number of modules (usually around four to five) that address a subtopic within that course. This course has assessments to measure learning and provide progress indicators and offers reading and reference materials.
An STLE U short course is a recorded presentation or talk that is accompanied by slides. They are shorter than the live Webinars, ranging from 20 to 30 minutes per module, and the number of modules varies with each course. Also included are additional reading and reference materials.
The live Webinar series, Industry Insight, is designed to provide information on various industries, careers and job functions within tribology and lubrication engineering, while also keeping participants on top of new developments and best practices in the industry.
While STLE U makes these new online options possible, the concept also is intended to highlight the value and expand the audience for STLE’s in-person education opportunities. These include annual meeting courses, local section courses, certificate courses and on-site education.
STLE U is open to members and non-members. While members get significant discounts on all course formats, nonmembers will find the university is an excellent way to experience the high value of STLE education and participation. Specific content and pricing information is available at
www.stle.org.
Once you visit the site, I think you will find that STLE U delivers on its promise: Education Your Way. Focused. Flexible. Accessible.
You can reach Certified Association Executive Ed Salek at esalek@stle.org.