Pictured: Qadree Shamsideen, Oliver Cephas Jr., Curtis D. Linton, Rima Stewart, and Anthony Horton. Photo provided by Wilmington University
Economists estimate hundreds of thousands of open positions nationwide across construction and related trades, a shortage reflected in Delaware as well.
WILMINGTON, Del. — Wilmington University and the Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 199 have announced a new partnership linking registered apprenticeship training directly to college credit, an effort leaders say could help address growing workforce shortages and skills gaps across Delaware’s construction and infrastructure industries.
The collaboration creates a formal bridge from the Construction Craft Laborer registered apprenticeship to a bachelor’s degree. Individuals who complete the apprenticeship can receive 33 credits toward a Bachelor of Applied Business with a concentration in construction management, with the potential to earn up to 42 credits when additional approved training is included.
Union and university leaders described the initiative as part of a broader strategy to align education, industry and workforce development while expanding advancement opportunities for working adults…