Apollo Education Group, University of Phoenix and EMC to Address IT Talent Shortage in Data Storage Industry

Collaboration to result in new University certificate program for aspiring professionals, focus on veterans

PHOENIX, May 4, 2015 — EMC Corporation (NYSE: EMC), Apollo Education Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOL), and University of Phoenix, are teaming up to develop a pipeline of talent from the armed services to address one of the most significant challenges in the information technology industry – a lack of professionals trained in data storage concepts and related technologies. As global data usage continues to grow exponentially for both personal and professional use, infrastructure and talent must be prepared to meet storage demands.

With 61 percent of employers valuing certifications during the hiring process, second only to on-the-job training[1], Apollo Education Group’s subsidiary University of Phoenix and EMC are developing a certificate program in information storage management through the University of Phoenix College of Information Systems and Technology and the EMC Academic Alliance program. Designed for military men and women transitioning to the civilian workforce, the Information Storage Management Path certificate will build on skills acquired in the military and position the veterans to pursue new opportunities with EMC, companies that employ EMC storage technologies as well as other organizations in the IT industry, protecting data critical to people and business.

“In the business world, data is everything, and protecting that data is critical,” said Tom Murray, senior vice president and chief talent officer for EMC. “With 70,000 employees worldwide, EMC looks for new hires who are able to join the company with the education and skillset to understand the challenges facing the IT industry. By working with Apollo Education Group and University of Phoenix, we can ensure there is a pipeline of potential employees, not only for EMC, our customers and partners, but for the larger IT industry, while also helping to generate career opportunities for military veterans interested in technology.”

“Apollo Education Group is committed to working with employers like EMC to develop tailored academic and training opportunities that address specific employment needs,” said Mitch Bowling, chief operating officer, Apollo Education Group. “This initiative demonstrates the ability of industry and higher education to come together and develop programs that provide job seekers with the credentials they need to be successful. We believe that strong partnerships and continuous feedback between employers and educators are the best ways to meet the country’s demand for skilled professionals.”

“University of Phoenix and EMC have a shared commitment to career-relevant education that prepares students to succeed in this fast-paced and innovative sector of the economy,” said Dennis Bonilla, executive dean for University of Phoenix College of Information Systems and Technology. “We are dedicated to giving back to our country’s military service members, their families and veterans, and believe that skills learned during military service can uniquely position veterans to contribute to the information technology sector of the civilian workforce.”

In 2014, the EMC Digital Universe study, with research and analysis from IDC, found that from 2013 to 2020, the digital universe will grow by a factor of 10 – from 4.4 trillion gigabytes to 44 trillion, more than doubling every two years. To keep pace, the technology industry will continue to be among the fastest growing industries, with job openings outpacing job candidates. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, information technology jobs are expected to grow by 22 percent through 2020.[2]

This initiative will be among the topics addressed at the EMC World conference May 4-7 in Las Vegas.

About EMC
EMC Corporation is a global leader in enabling businesses and service providers to transform their operations and deliver IT as a service. Fundamental to this transformation is cloud computing. Through innovative products and services, EMC accelerates the journey to cloud computing, helping IT departments to store, manage, protect and analyze their most valuable asset — information — in a more agile, trusted and cost-efficient way. Additional information about EMC can be found at www.EMC.com.

In 2011, EMC became a founding member of the 100,000 Jobs Mission, a coalition of eleven companies committed to hire 100,000 veterans by 2020. Since then, the coalition has grown to more than 190 companies that represent almost every industry in the American economy. Together, the 100,000 Jobs Mission companies have hired 217,344 veterans, more than double the original goal. Building on this momentum, the mission has raised its goal to hire 300,000 U.S. military veterans.

ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX
University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working adults move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses, and interactive learning can help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. As a subsidiary of  Apollo Education Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOL), University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu.

About Apollo Education Group, Inc.
Apollo Education Group, Inc. is one of the world’s largest private education providers, serving students since 1973. Through its subsidiaries, Apollo Education Group offers undergraduate, graduate, professional development and other nondegree educational programs and services, online and on-campus principally to working learners. Its educational programs and services are offered throughout the United States and in Europe, Australia, Latin America, Africa and Asia, as well as online throughout the world. For more information about Apollo Education Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, call (800) 990-APOL or visit the Company’s website at www.apollo.edu.

[1] https://education.emc.com/content/_common/docs/articles/Managing_Storage_Trends_Challenges_and_Options_2013_2014.pdf

[2] http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/database-administrators.htm