When Vamsi Krishna Ginna began her graduate studies in computer science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), she was looking for an internship that would provide hands-on experience in software development.
He previously worked in product maintenance for several companies in Hyderabad, India, but wanted to move into something more creative. He learned a lot in his classes at UMBC, but he needed work experience. That's where the Maryland Technology Internship Program (MTIP) came in handy.
The program, launched by the university in 2018, provides funding for Maryland technology companies to hire interns from the state's universities. Now, thanks to an influx of funding from the state of Maryland, this same internship program will be available to more students.
The $700,000 budget investment, approved by Gov. Wes Moore and allocated through the state Department of Commerce's budget, will allow UMBC to double its program year offerings starting with internships this summer. Before this funding began on July 1, the number of internships averaged 160 per year. Currently, 300 internships are expected. Adding this funding to the current base budget of $365,000 would make MTIP a $1 million annual program.
Gina is currently interning at Ardent Privacy, a security software company based at the bwtech@UMBC Innovation Park in Catonsville. He found the position on job posting site Handshake and has been working at Ardent since the fall 2023 semester. He specifically supports the development of privacy automation tools.
“I definitely had theoretical knowledge from academics, but this internship helped me gain practical experience,” Gina told Technical.ly.
According to data collected by UMBC, nearly 90% of participating companies are classified as small businesses with fewer than 150 employees. Employers are located throughout the state, including Bethesda, College Park, and Silver Spring.
This program has two main objectives. One is to attract and retain technology industry talent in the state, and the other is to support Maryland's small businesses and startups. More than 30 universities, including community colleges, are participating. Maryland residents attending out-of-state colleges are also eligible to participate.
“It’s a really great opportunity for students to get involved, because when they’re working with these small businesses, a lot of the time; They can wear so many hats,” said Jen Spencer Heilman, program director for workforce initiatives at UMBC’s Career Center. “They can interact with his CEO and work on larger projects. So it's really a win-win for the company and for the intern.”
Jake Wiseman, UMBC's vice president of government relations and community affairs, has led efforts to secure funding in collaboration with the governor's office and legislators since taking office in December. He said the program is a “unique pipeline” to keep technology talent in Maryland.
“This infusion of funding into this program is truly a vote of confidence by the governor,” Weissman said, “and we expect it to demonstrate both the opportunity and long-term viability of this program.”
How students and companies can get involved
The MTIP website has a section where we post intern positions. There was also a position posted at Handshake, where Ginna found her Ardent Privacy internship. MTIP advertises positions rather than introducing students themselves.
The program hosts recruiting events each spring, and Spencer Heilman said the new funding will allow for even more recruiting events. The next recruitment event is scheduled for the fall semester.
For companies wishing to participate, the process is simple. Maryland-based companies needing to hire interns in technology fields such as cybersecurity, engineering, manufacturing, and IT.
A company representative must also attend the information session. These are usually held twice a month, but employers who are unable to attend may try to schedule separate sessions.
Companies will also need to show that interns will be paid a salary for the semester, and because the MTIP partially reimburses companies after the term ends, increased funding means larger reimbursements for companies who participate in the program.
Last semester, MTIP was able to award up to $1,800 per intern. The price has now increased to 3,000 yen.
“We're really excited to be able to support these small businesses in a greater capacity,” Spencer Heilman said, “and we're excited about the program to bring this assistance to more businesses in the region and across the state.” “We will expand this,” he said.