More Marylanders than ever before are graduating from STEM programs, preparing them for new technology and cybersecurity jobs
ANNAPOLIS, MD -- Governor Martin O’Malley announced that Maryland college students are graduating from Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) degree programs at record rates. From 2006 to 2013, the number of STEM graduates from Maryland colleges and universities increased by 37.1% from 9,544 in 2006 to 13,082 in 2013.
In September 2008, Governor O’Malley created the Governor’s STEM Task Force to make recommendations aimed at establishing Maryland as a global leader in the development of its future workforce and its STEM-based research and economic development infrastructure. One of the recommendations of the Task Force was to increase the number of STEM college graduates in Maryland by 40 percent by the year 2015. Governor O’Malley accepted these recommendations and included them in hissixteen strategic policy goals. Especially in light of today’s announcement, Maryland is on track to meet that goal.
Maryland continues to be a leader in STEM education, having been the first state in the nation to set specific STEM education standards that tell teachers not just what STEM is, but how to teach the subjects. A STEM education is critical to ensuring that students can compete for and obtain jobs in Maryland where there is a growing demand for skilled workers to fill federal research laboratories and cybersecurity jobs.
“Ensuring that our students are prepared to compete in the economy of tomorrow is an important part of strengthening STEM education in Maryland,” said Governor O’Malley. “STEM programs offer our students the opportunity to broaden their skills, learn about new, cutting edge technology, and compete for jobs in fields such as technology, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing. Together, we will continue to provide our students with access to a high-quality education to ensure economic opportunity and strengthen and grow our middle class.”
Governor O’Malley was joined at today’s event by Jennifer Frank, the Assistant Secretary of the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Frank discussed the importance of a STEM education in building a 21st century economy.
“Continuing to increase the number of STEM degrees awarded to students is a key goal for Maryland postsecondary education,” said Frank. “Our colleges and universities are committed to attracting, retaining, and graduating students in these critical disciplines, as well as preparing high-quality teachers who will educate the STEM collegians of the future. We appreciate and commend the efforts of our two-year and four-year institutions throughout the state.”
President Freeman Hrabowski of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County stated that we need to broaden the appeal of STEM to individuals with diverse backgrounds.
“We need to be doing more to change perceptions about who belongs in STEM fields,” Hrabowski said. “At UMBC, for instance, our Center for Women in Information Technology (CWIT) is playing an important role helping women recognize their potential to become technology professionals and entrepreneurs. Preparing students from all backgrounds for technology-related careers -- including many careers in which the arts, humanities, and social sciences play a vital role -- will help our state and the nation remain competitive.”
University of Maryland University College’s President, Javier Miyares, added, “Maryland is the epicenter of the STEM-related cybersecurity industry and UMUC is now producing thousands of graduates who are filling key roles in this field that is vital to our economy and national security,” stated Miyares. "In fact, we are building a spirit of community around STEM-success through our championship cyber security competition teams. We cheer for our UMUC Cyber Padawans the way students at other universities cheer for their basketball teams."
Increasing the number of STEM graduates is a key piece of the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s education agenda, which includes holding tuition at Maryland’s four-year institutions to a 3.3% increase (the lowest in the nation) and having the number one public schools for a record five years in a row.
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Lying Democrat.
ReplyDeleteBetter if Gov spends time reading "Building Websites for Dummies"
ReplyDeleteFor real 8:54. This problem "stems" from omally and the democratic party.
ReplyDeleteThey lie and say the ticket out of poverty is education AND EVERYONE DESERVES one. Who ever believes this has crap for brains! Or is profiting off of it, like the banks involved in student loans. In order to make it look like the state has a lot of college grads and politicians can brag about it, they lower the standards. Now anyone in the mid IQ range can get a degree. The brightest and the best suffer because companies know the game.
An article in this week's WorCo Times by Harrison Jackson of the MD Coastal Bays Program sums it up. Quoting-"Companies like Johnson&Johnson, Pfizer, Mac, Google & other Fortune 500 companies send out scouts and "head hunters" across the globe in search of the best & brightest employees to bring back to their respective companies. Unfortunately, it seems that many American high school & college graduates get passed over for thes highly competitive but highly paid jobs."
(I have been saying this exact same thing on this blog, for some time now.)
The democrats have totally devastated the US education system.
At this point in time, the absolutely best thing any parent can do for their children is to vote as many democrats-local-state and fed levels as possible out of office. It will take time but the GOP are capable of turning things around, which will benefit future generations.
ReplyDeleteIt's time people face the facts. Democrat policies don't work, have never worked and will not suddenly and miraculously work now. They are useless people because they only have their own self interests at heart. Keep in mind (and history is proof) that the only thing they excel at, is lying.
I'm just so happy for the rich counties of Maryland and their wonderful success at the expense of the rest of us.
ReplyDelete{sarcasm}