HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Honda recently donated 5 of its engines to Alabama A&M University CETPS students.
CETPS stands for College of Engineering, Technology and Physical Sciences.
"We got five of these small engines, they have five horsepower," said Alabama A&M's Director of Special Projects Laboratory, Dr. Wing Chan.
A&M was already using similar resources... Honda wanted to help out: "They found out we're using their motorcycle engine in our car. So that's why they said, 'hey, maybe we can help you guys out,'" said Chan.
This is about more than Honda donating engines to the college, this partnership between the two is a mutually beneficial relationship, that has pros for both sides.
"We're going to get their resources and then we train the students, so our students are well equipped to go to Honda and help them to move forward," said Chan.
The use of these engines in a hands-on setting will help combat a current issue some college students face: "One of the major things about the current, so-called engineering student issue, is the lack of hands-on experience," said Chan.
Of course, time in the classroom is important but actually being a part of the workforce is different.
"This will provide a lot of opportunities for them to get their hands, what I call - dirty. So that when they can go to the industry, they can just adapt to the environment right away," said Chan.
Not only is this donation exciting to Dr. Chan, these hands-on experiences help open doors for his students.
"This is so critical to let the student understand if they have the vision, and if they have the motivation, they can build it, they can make it happen," said Chan.