Governor Lamont Announces Seven New Technical Education Programs at Connecticut Public and Private Colleges

press release

July 15, 2022

Governor Lamont Announces Seven New Technical Education Programs at Connecticut Public and Private Colleges

(Hartford, Connecticut) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced the creation of seven new technology education programs at public and private colleges and universities in Connecticut. The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) and the Business Higher Education Forum (BHEF), in partnership with the Connecticut Bureau of Workforce Strategy and the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, have awarded grants to seven business higher education partnerships . As part of an initiative to rapidly increase the competitiveness of Connecticut’s institutions of higher education and meet the growing business demand for technical skills.

This initiative, the Tech Talent Accelerator, is funded by the Connecticut Tech Talent Fund (managed by the Connecticut Department of Community and Economic Development) by facilitating targeted, high-performance partnerships in business and emerging higher education. Close this skills gap. Technical skills are sought in areas such as cybersecurity, virtual modeling, software development and digital analytics that are critical to business growth in the state.

The seven Tech Talent Accelerator recipients and their areas of focus are:

• Quinnipiac Collegelaunches advanced cybersecurity badge program tailored for industry partners in healthcare, finance and technology in central and southern Connecticut.
• bridgeport universityoffers a new 12-week course in cybersecurity and information security tailored for companies in the financial and technology sectors of Southwest Connecticut.
• Mitchell Collegedevelops an accelerated path of cybersecurity skills tailored to advanced manufacturing and defense sectors.
• Hartford UniversityIt launches a rapid software development course for mobile apps tailored for leading companies in the Greater Hartford region, backed by global technology company Infosys.
• New Haven Universityworks with SphereGen, Arsome, and Pleiadian to develop embedded game design and simulation development programs that leverage their augmented and virtual reality skills.
• St. Joseph’s CollegeIt develops a data analytics degree concentration tailored to the local needs of employers in Greater Hartford, championed by CGI, a global technology company.
• Connecticut State University (CSCU)It launches a dedicated community of practice to work with companies through the Capital Area Tech Partnership and the Southwest Connecticut Tech Partnership. CSCU faculty at two- and four-year colleges will work directly with each partnership to analyze job and skill demand data, building on the success of the newly released Digital Analytics Micro-Qualification Fundamentals Develop updated programs with proven cross-cutting digital skills. By a Connecticut company.

“Bringing our educators to the same table as our business has been a priority of our management from day one. Governor Lamont said:“By clarifying the types of skills companies need and working with the best educational institutions in Connecticut to create new programs that put people into quality careers, we are the nation’s leading labor force. It’s a way of building power.”

“The Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy and the Governor’s Workforce Council are forming regional sector partnerships across the state comprised of Connecticut’s top employers to provide the resources needed to meet the most in-demand talent. We are clarifying and adjusting our skills.” Connecticut Chief Workforce Officer Dr. Kelly Vallière said:“Connecticut needs tech workers to grow our 21.^st Sustaining the workforce of the century and forming partnerships between tech employers and post-secondary institutions is a seamless way to ensure we create an organic talent pipeline that grows our economy. ”

“Technology talent is important to businesses in all sectors of Connecticut.” Martin Guay, vice president of business development at Stanley Black and Decker and co-chair of the Hartford-based Capital Area Tech Partnership, one of the state’s regional sector partnerships, said: .“The Tech Talent Accelerator is helping us rapidly improve the state’s ability to provide the talent it needs to keep businesses competitive in Connecticut. Entire communities benefit from hiring a diverse, well-trained, and ready-to-work technical workforce with the specific skills our businesses require through the state’s world-class public and independent higher education institutions I guess.”

“CSCU is very pleased to be part of this effort. We are very grateful for the resources and opportunities to invest in the professional development of our faculty.” CSCU President Terrence Chen said:“By partnering with NEBHE, BHEF, and regional sector partnerships, CSCU institutions ensure that programs are tailored to business needs and that students are equipped with the academic, technical, and personal skills necessary for the IT workforce. can be worn with certainty.”

“A private Connecticut university wants to help the state’s business community by developing new programs that teach high-tech, in-demand skills.” Jen Widnes, president of the Connecticut Independent Colleges Council, said:“We are grateful for our partnership with the states, NEBHE, BHEF and CSCU in launching the Tech Talent Accelerator initiative.”

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