Brooklyn Park, Aug. 17, 2022 – Eight Hennepin Technical College (Hennepin Tech) students are entering an exciting apprenticeship program called the Industry Consortium for Advanced Technical Training (ICATT). On August 9, the students in ICATT participated in Signing Day on the Eden Prairie campus.
At Hennepin Tech, the students will study Automation Robotics Engineering Technology or Business. While enrolled at the college, they will also work at Buhler, an advanced manufacturing company in Plymouth, Minnesota. Their schedule will allow them to “earn while you learn.” When students learn a skill or concept in the classroom, they can immediately apply what they learned in a real-life work environment.
In this apprenticeship, students receive free tuition and earn an income. Though students work part-time, they will earn full-time wages – so essentially the students are getting paid for their time in the classroom. One student called the program “the best thing ever” because of the benefits. At the successful conclusion of the apprenticeship, students have work experience, an associate degree and a job waiting for them.
Hennepin Tech is the only college in Minnesota to partner with ICATT, the largest apprenticeship program in the U.S that is fully benchmarked on the German Dual Education System. The partnership began in 2022 with robotics students. This year, the apprenticeship has expanded to include students pursuing careers in business fields.
Nationwide, the ICATT apprenticeship is designed to benefit students and also high-tech manufacturing companies. During the next decade, it’s estimated there will be a shortage of 3.4 million skilled workers. To address this crisis, the ICATT apprenticeships provide companies with an effective way to develop a pipeline of talent.
About Hennepin Technical College
Founded in 1972, Hennepin Technical College is the largest stand-alone technical college in Minnesota. With campuses in Brooklyn Park and Eden Prairie, the college offers degree and non-degree courses in over 40 programs. Achieving a high job placement rate, Hennepin Tech prepares students for in-demand and high-paying employment opportunities.
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