IBM will partner with several community college systems to offer certificate-level training in cybersecurity and data analytics. This new collaboration aims to prepare students for an array of high-tech jobs. The two new certificate programs will be available this fall across the Alabama Community College System, the Bay Area Community College Consortium, the Colorado Community College System, and the Louisiana Community and Technical College System.
Cybersecurity and data analytics are increasingly essential skills in the workforce, especially as the application of artificial intelligence tools grows. According to a study conducted by the IBM Institute of Business Value, executives estimate that AI and automation will require 40% of their workforce to reskill over the next three years, mostly in entry-level positions. “Community colleges play a critical role in advancing the adoption of essential technology skills for the workforce,” said Lydia Logan, IBM Vice President for Global Education and Workforce Development, in a company news release.
“With these new credentials, IBM is helping learners gain the in-demand skills employers are seeking in a new AI-enabled workplace.”
The certificates were designed by academic and industry experts to be accessible to a wide range of learners interested in jobs such as information security analyst, network security technician, data visualization specialist, and entry-level marketing analyst.
IBM partners with community colleges
The certificate curricula will be available to first-time degree seekers and workers wishing to upskill or change careers.
Eligible applicants can hold a high school degree or GED, associate degree, or a bachelor’s degree in a non-technical field. The learning plan for each certificate is 60-65 hours in length and is structured to be integrated into a community college’s curriculum. The American Council on Education recommends that 12 credits be awarded for completion of the IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity Certificate and 8 credits for the IBM SkillsBuild Data Analytics Certificate.
The new certificates will cover the following courses:
IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity Certificate:
– Governance, risk, compliance, and data privacy
– Vulnerability management
– System and network security
– Cloud security
– Security operations management
– Incident response and system forensics
IBM SkillsBuild Data Analytics Certificate:
– Data classification
– Data usability for organizations
– Inferential and descriptive statistics
– Data collection and analysis
– Data preparation for analysis
– Data visualization and presentation
Additionally, students will have access to more than 1,000 free courses on AI, sustainability, cybersecurity, data analytics, cloud computing, and workplace skills. The new certificates were first successfully piloted with students in Alabama, Colorado, California, and Louisiana in 2023. IBM stated that partnering with community colleges is a component of its skills-first approach and reflects its commitment made in 2021 to provide 30 million people with new skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow by 2030.
April Isaacs is a news contributor for DevX.com She is long-term, self-proclaimed nerd. She loves all things tech and computers and still has her first Dreamcast system. It is lovingly named Joni, after Joni Mitchell.
