- Alabama Community College System, Bay Area Community College
Consortium, Colorado Community College System, and Louisiana Community and Technical College
System will offer students access through IBM SkillsBuild this
fall
- Credentials have been piloted and designed with community
college experts, and have ACE recommended college
credits
WASHINGTON, July 22,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today unveiled
two new IBM SkillsBuild certificates in cybersecurity and data
analytics, which have been piloted and designed with community
colleges. These new IBM SkillsBuild certificates will be available
to students across the Alabama Community College System, Bay Area
Community College Consortium, Colorado Community College System,
and Louisiana Community and
Technical College System this fall.
Cybersecurity and data analytics skills are essential for
artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, enabling professionals to
extract insights, secure critical information, drive informed
decisions, and create value across industries in an increasingly
data-centric and security-conscious world. According to a global
study conducted by IBM Institute of Business Value, executives
estimate that implementing AI and automation will require 40% of
their workforce to reskill over the next three years, mostly those
in entry-level positions. This underscores the importance of
creating public-private partnerships to help close the skills
gap.
"Community colleges play a critical role in advancing the
adoption of essential technology skills for the workforce," said
Lydia Logan, Vice President for Global Education and Workforce
Development, IBM Corporate Social Responsibility. "With these new
credentials, IBM is helping learners gain the in-demand skills
employers are seeking in a new AI-enabled workplace."
The certificates are designed to meet the needs of learners and
have been developed with academic and industry experts. Community
college programs can integrate them into existing curriculums for
students to earn credits.
- Designed to meet the needs of learners: These certificates are
accessible for first-time degree seekers, upskillers, or career
changers who hold a high school degree or GED, associate degree, or
a bachelor's degree in a non-technical field. Self-paced,
experiential learning across all levels helps effectively prepare
learners for potential job opportunities such as junior information
security analyst, network security technician, data visualization
specialist, and entry-level marketing analyst.
- Developed together with academic and industry experts: Jobs for
the Future (JFF) and a coalition of industry experts contributed to
and validated the new competency-based IBM SkillsBuild
certificates to align coursework and learnings with current
employer demand as well as trends and expectations in the market to
maximize job opportunities for students upon completion. The
experts included representatives from employers including banks and
tech firms, as well as schools and education nonprofits
nationwide.
- Integrate into existing community college programs for college
credits: Each certificate learning plan is 60-65 hours in length
and can be integrated into a community college's curriculum. The
American Council on Education (ACE) has conducted a Learning
Evaluation Review of the certificates and recommends 12 credits for
completion of the IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity Certificate and 8
credits for the IBM SkillsBuild Data Analytics Certificate. The
coursework also aligns with CompTIA SEC+ certification topics and
skills and is recognized by potential employers.
The new certificates from IBM SkillsBuild require completion of
the following courses:
IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity
Certificate: governance, risk, compliance and data
privacy, vulnerability management, system and network security,
cloud security, security operations management, and 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, and data
visualization and presentation.
Additionally, students will have access to IBM SkillsBuild
including other credentials and more than 1,000 free courses such
as AI, sustainability, cybersecurity, data analytics, cloud
computing, and workplace skills.
The new certificates were piloted successfully with students in
Alabama, Colorado, California, and Louisiana in 2023.
"Alabama community college
worked with IBM to pilot the Cybersecurity Certificate because of
the strong need for entry-level competency-based credentials that
help students start on a pathway for an IT career," said Dr.
Courtney Monette, Special Programs
Project Director, Alabama Community College System. "In 2021,
Alabama adopted a skills-based
workforce training program called Mobilizing Alabama Pathways, or
MAPs, that allows new and returning adult education and career
pathway students an opportunity to earn a credential like the IBM
SkillsBuild Cybersecurity or Data Analytics Certificate; thus
building confidence and basic employability skills for all high
demand high wage career clusters."
"Using the IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity credential for my
two community education Cybersecurity Fundamentals courses that I
piloted at Diablo Valley College during
last fall and spring semesters, proved to be a rewarding experience
for the student participants, for me, and for the college," said
Richard Grotegut, Computer Network
Technology Faculty at Diablo Valley
College, part of the Contra Costa
Community College District and a member of the Bay Area
Community College Consortium. "It confirmed the college's decision
to offer the course as part of their academic offerings beginning
this coming school year. The credential proved to be a very good
entry-level introduction to cybersecurity. While most of the
participants enhanced their academic credentials and are pursuing
further study, several of the course "career-changers" used their
success in the class to gain employment in technical support
positions with local companies. The rich course content and
approach, with a strong focus on oral and written communication
skills, was a key factor in building the confidence that helped the
students land those jobs."
"Front Range Community College is
thrilled to have been selected as one of four colleges nationally
to collaborate in designing and launching the new IBM SkillsBuild
data analytics credential," said Colleen
Simpson, EdD, Front Range Community
College President. "This collaboration with renowned
technology leader IBM provides our students the opportunity to
develop critical skill sets in this rapidly growing field."
"Baton Rouge Community College
was excited to work with IBM in piloting this initiative last
year," said BRCC Chancellor Dr. Willie E.
Smith. "We look forward to continuing this collaboration and
working with IBM to expand the initiative and offer it to
Louisiana citizens through the
Louisiana Community and Technical
College System. Through this collaboration, we are demonstrating a
commitment to equipping our residents with the skills and practical
experience required to excel in the high demand fields of
cybersecurity and data analytics. Together, we are paving the way
for Louisiana to emerge as a
national leader in these rapidly growing sectors, ensuring our
talent is prepared to navigate the challenges and seize the
opportunities of the future."
"In an increasingly dynamic economy shaped by fast-evolving
technology, employers, learners, and workers need nimble and
trusted ways to acquire and validate skills that will lead to
quality jobs of the future," said Joel
Vargas, Vice President of JFF's Education Practice. "JFF is
proud to work with IBM and these innovative colleges to lead the
charge on creating scalable solutions to meet this growing
need."
IBM's work with community colleges is an important component of
the company's pioneering skills-first approach and part of IBM's
commitment to providing 30 million people with new skills
needed for the jobs of tomorrow by 2030.
About IBM SkillsBuild
IBM SkillsBuild is a free education program aimed at
increasing access to technology education. Through the program, IBM
supports adult learners, and high school and university students
and faculty, to develop valuable new skills and access career
opportunities. The program includes an online platform that is
complemented by customized practical learning experiences delivered
in collaboration with a global network of partners.
The open version of IBM SkillsBuild is an online platform
offering over 1,000 courses in 20 languages on AI, sustainability,
cybersecurity, data analysis, cloud computing, and many other
technical disciplines — as well as in workplace skills such as
design thinking. Participants can earn IBM-branded digital
credentials that are recognized by the market.
The enhanced version of IBM SkillsBuild may also include
workshops, expert conversations with IBM coaches and mentors,
project-based learning, access to IBM software, specialized support
from partners through the learning process, and connection to
career opportunities. Visit skillsbuild.org to learn more.
Media Contact:
Estefania Sanchez
IBM Media Relations
estefania.sanchez@ibm.com
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SOURCE IBM