Maine Department of Labor Announces Launch of University of Maine at Augusta Cybersecurity and IT Registered Apprenticeship Program

September 28, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 28, 2023

Maine Department of Labor Announces Launch of University of Maine at Augusta Cybersecurity and IT Registered Apprenticeship Program

AUGUSTA - Today the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) and University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) announced the launch of the University of Maine at Augusta's cybersecurity and IT registered apprenticeship program during an event hosted in the Randall Student Center on the UMA campus.

"A key piece of expanding our state's IT and cybersecurity workforce is ensuring that there is a steady talent pipeline of people interested in it and learning the skills necessary to be successful in the field," Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman said. "The Maine Department of Labor is thrilled to be working with National Industry Intermediary Safal Partners and the University of Maine at Augusta to expand access to careers in higher wage sectors like IT and cybersecurity, especially for communities that are under-represented in the tech field today."

The mutually beneficial Maine Apprenticeship Program - https://www.maine.gov/labor/jobs_training/apprenticeship/ , in place since 1941, works with both employers and workers to fulfill workforce talent needs and connect people to training pathways and high-quality jobs. Apprenticeship gives workers an opportunity to "earn while they learn," and receive a nationally recognized, portable credential without accumulating debt.

A proven hiring, training, and retention strategy, over 90 percent - https://www.apprenticeship.gov/sites/default/files/dol-industry-factsheet-apprenticeship101-v10.pdf of registered apprentices nationwide continue to work with their employer once their training is complete.

Maine currently has six cybersecurity employer partners, with 23 apprentices. These apprenticeships are in 12 occupations, including IT Generalist, Cyber security, application developer, data scientist, analyst, programmer, networking, and user experience designer. This new partnership with UMA will further expand cybersecurity and IT opportunities for employers and workers.

UMAs registered apprenticeship program will provide employers with a proven way of recruiting and training new hires, while also having the opportunity to upskill existing employees in critical cybersecurity skills and competencies.

Employers, human resource leaders, local workforce board and America Job Center (AJC) staff, education leaders, and students were invited to attend the launch and learn how they can work with UMA's MDOL-approved apprenticeship program to meet Maine's workforce needs in IT and cybersecurity.

A panel of subject matter experts from Safal Partners, who is the U.S. Department of Labor National Industry Intermediary for cybersecurity apprenticeship expansion, and current Maine employers discussed promising practices when using apprenticeship as a workforce development model.

The event concluded with a tour of UMAs Cyber Lab.

If you are interested in becoming an apprenticeship employer partner or would like to learn more about the program, please contact UMA Maine Cyber Range Program Coordinator Michele Weymouth at michele.weymouth@maine.edu.

For more information on registered apprenticeship, visit https://www.maine.gov/labor/jobs_training/apprenticeship/

View a picture of the announcement.