Networking receptions on University of Maine campuses will help computing and IT students find paid internships with Maine organizations University of Maine students interested in computing and IT internships and jobs after graduation are invited to Project>Login networking receptions on 5 campuses in October and November.
These receptions provide opportunities for students to talk with IT professionals and recruiters from some of the Maine companies that want to hire them. Business representatives will talk to students about the role of IT in their companies, the opportunities for internships and co-ops, and the need to hire qualified graduates in these fields. These networking receptions are part of a statewide series of relationship-building events for aspiring IT professionals and Maine employers. They are sponsored by Project>Login, a program of Educate Maine, the business-led advocacy organization whose mission is to champion college and career readiness and increased education attainment. Project>Login's goal is to double the number of computing and IT graduates at University of Maine campuses in four years. Project>Login was launched in February, 2013, with the goal of generating enough trained professionals in computing and IT to keep Maine businesses at the forefront of their industries. The initiative is a partnership between the University of Maine System and Educate Maine. Five networking receptions for college students were held last winter, supported by the University of Maine System. This second year of receptions kicks off the 2014 paid internship recruiting season.\n\nIn addition to networking receptions, Project>Login's initiatives include an inventory of internship opportunities with Maine businesses, educational resources, and a network of support designed to grow the computer and technology workforce. The lack of trained computer and technology professionals is a growing problem nationwide. While the need for this workforce has grown through recent years, the number of college graduates with degrees in this field has dropped. The U.S. Department of Labor projects that by 2018, 1.4 million computing jobs will have opened in the U.S. If current graduation rates continue, only 61 percent of these jobs could be filled by U.S. computing degree-earners. Project>Login is funded by private-sector businesses affected by the workforce gap. They include Bangor Savings Bank, Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, IDEXX Laboratories, MaineHealth, Maine Medical Center, Pierce Atwood, TD Bank, The University of Maine System, Tyler Technologies, Unum, and WEX.
