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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2017
Governor Mary Fallin Announces Earn & Learn Oklahoma, Sets Registered Apprenticeship and Internship Goal
Oklahoma Works partners
with business and education organizations
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today announced the state’s new
goal to increase the number of Oklahomans engaged in quality work-based
learning to 20,000 per year by 2020. Currently, Oklahomans experience
approximately 15,000 work-based learning opportunities each year.
“It is critical
Oklahoma steps up to the challenges of an increasingly competitive global
economy,” said Fallin. "Earn & Learn
gives Oklahomans opportunities to explore career pathways. Quality work-based
learning adds rigor and relevance to academic coursework.”
Work-based learning opportunities include:
Quality opportunities are characterized by clear roles and responsibilities;
training plans with specific learning goals and trackable outcomes; a range of
experiences in high-demand occupations; and reinforcement of learning outside
of work.
Oklahoma
Secretary of Education and Workforce Development Natalie Shirley discussed the
benefits of work-based learning for students and employers.
“Students
benefit by experiencing career exploration, assessing their abilities and
strengths, and expanding their professional networks,” said Shirley. “These
programs expand talent pipelines for employers to fill vital jobs and close the
skills gap.”
Oklahoma Works
partnered with various business and education organizations to coordinate and
promote work-based learning. The partners include the state Department of
Education, the state Regents for Higher Education, the state Department of
Career and Technology Education, the State Chamber of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma
Office of Workforce Development. These organizations signed a memorandum of understanding
to codify the goal.
“The State
Chamber is proud to join the governor in strengthening local partnerships to
invest in future talent for Oklahoma’s business community,” said Fred Morgan, president
and chief executive officer of the State Chamber of Oklahoma.
Partners commit
to increasing work-based learning opportunities and participants to ensure the
state meets the goal by 2020.
“Internships and
apprenticeships provide Oklahomans with a clear pathway to wealth-generating
careers,” said Fallin. “This goal is part of my Oklahoma Works initiative, which
aligns education with the critical needs of the workforce. Work-based learning
allows job seekers to gain training and on-the-job experience. I appreciate the
hard work of the Office of Workforce Development in ensuring these
opportunities are expanded and diversified for our state.”
The governor announced the registered apprenticeship and internship goal during her STEM and entrepreneurship summit in Oklahoma City. The updated Oklahoma Works strategic plan, which includes the new goal and other updates, also was released during the summit.
For more information, contact Erin Risley-Baird, executive director of the Oklahoma Office of Workforce Development, at (405) 596-6668 o at erin.risleybaird@osuokc.edu
For more information about Earn &
Learn, and to view the strategic plan visit www.oklahomaworks.gov/about.
About Oklahoma Works
Oklahoma Works is designed to increase the wealth of all
Oklahomans through facilitating quality employment for workers and ready
availability of highly skilled talent for business and industry. Oklahoma
Works' strategic priorities are coordinated by the Governor’s Council for
Workforce and Economic Development. The initiative was implemented by Governor Mary
Fallin, and is a coalition of state agencies, educational institutions,
businesses and other partners. Learn more at www.oklahomaworks.gov.
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 Governor Mary Fallin addresses her annual STEM and entrepreneurship summit Thursday in Oklahoma City.
Web: www.governor.ok.gov
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GovernorMaryFallin
Twitter: www.twitter.com/GovMaryFallin
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