Southern Maine Community College and the city of Portland’s adult education program on Wednesday unveiled a new partnership to improve workforce training and educational opportunities for new Mainers.
Officials from both institutions signed a memorandum of understanding to launch Building the Pipeline, an effort to improve the screening, testing, evaluation and prior learning assessment of immigrant populations in southern Maine. The goal is help those potential students align their qualifications more closely with workforce training and SMCC programs that award credentials.
“Building the Pipeline will help new Mainers plan their pathways toward the training and education they need to secure bright futures,” said SMCC President Joe Cassidy in a news release.
“This initiative will allow us to improve the delivery of hands-on training to new Mainers, providing them with the skills that businesses are looking for to grow and prosper,” he added.
Portland Adult Education typically serves about 4,000 adults each year, including 2,240 immigrants last year from 90 countries. It also has a New Mainers Resource Center that serves immigrants, refugees and employers in the greater Portland area, helping foreign-trained skilled professionals overcome barriers to pursue their professions in Maine.
Anita St. Onge, education director at Portland Adult Ed, said the new relationship with SMCC will allow the New Mainers Resource Center to strengthen the pipeline from her organization “to high-demand jobs in the Portland area.”
What each organization will contribute
Under the agreement, SMCC will provide work and classroom space at its South Portland Campus for Portland Adult Education operations that support Building the Pipeline.
Portland Adult Ed will promote SMCC training opportunities with its own student body and alumni. For immigrants interested in SMCC workforce training classes, Portland Adult Ed will assess their professional backgrounds, any credentials, English literacy, math levels and mechanical aptitude as needed.
In addition, Portland Adult Ed staff will provide career and education advising services, remedial support where needed, and workforce readiness and job-hunting training to students in SMCC workforce training classes.