Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast Preparing Manufacturing's Future: How Kettering University's Co-op Model Provides Real-World Experience
Mar 12, 2026
Robert McMahan, president of Kettering University and former industry executive, outlines Kettering’s cooperative education model. He describes 12-week classroom/work rotations, how paid work builds technical and soft skills, and how industry-aligned curriculum adapts to AI and manufacturing needs. He also covers employer ROI, accessibility through paid placements, and treating talent like a supply chain.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Co-op Rotations Create Midcareer Graduates
- Kettering integrates classroom and paid professional placements in 12-week rotations throughout a student's degree.
- Students graduate with an engineering and business degree plus about 2.5 years of full-time work experience as mentored employees.
Students Signal Curriculum Changes Every Term
- Students return every 12 weeks from industry placements and directly inform curriculum changes based on real-world needs.
- That feedback loop forces the university to evolve teaching, calendar, and course content to match employer requirements.
Let Co-op Students Do Real Work And Mentor Them
- Employers should hire co-op students as full contributors and mentor them; they return more value than passive observers.
- Kettering students often perform project-level work and then engage classroom learning with practical context.