UNE adds online 'boot camps' in growing tech fields
The University of New England is adding two online adult-education programs to train people for high-demand tech careers in software development and in user experience/user interface design.
Both programs, being marketed as "boot camps," will be available to learners in Maine and beyond through UNE Online, the school's online education division. UNE has campuses in Biddeford and Portland, as well as overseas, in Tangiers, Morocco.
Around 7,240 students were enrolled in UNE's online programs in the 2020-2021 school year, a spokesman told Mainebiz. The number includes 5,243 students taking non-degree courses as well as 1,997 students in degree programs.
In Wednesday's announcement, UNE said it aims to support Maine communities as the regional technology sector continues to grow. The career accelerator training is designed to complement education from other academic programs and to help students develop skills that increase their career flexibility.
"As the technology industry continues to expand in Maine and throughout New England, and as technology becomes increasingly central to many careers paths, the demand for training and for these new skills will only increase,” said Beth Taylor-Nolan, dean of UNE Online.
Tech in Maine has boomed over the past several years. In 2021, the state added 500 new technology jobs, and projections for 2022 look to match that, according to UNE.
UNE's online courses in user experience/user interface (UX/UI) design will be offered through a partnership with Upright Education, a Burlington, Vt.-based organization that partners with colleges and universities to prepare adults for the future of work.
“UNE’s partnership with Upright is allowing us to quickly launch quality programs that meet the needs of Maine’s adult learners, as well as of regional employers that are seeking a workforce development partner,” said Taylor-Nolan.
Students who successfully complete the technology bootcamps will receive certificates of completion and microcredentials that can be added to a resume.
The news comes as UNE gets ready to welcome Gwendolyn Mahon as its next provost in late October.
Mahon, who spent the past seven years as dean of the Rutgers School of Health Professions in Newark, N.J., will succeed outgoing UNE Provost Karen T. Pardue, who is retiring but will stay on at UNE in a part-time, senior position.
More information
More information about the new programs and application forms are available online. UNE and Upright Education are hosting a free introductory information session on June 28.
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