IBM to Partner with Multiple Community College Systems to Offer Certificate-Level Training … (+)
IBM has announcement a new collaboration with several community college systems to offer cybersecurity and data analytics training to prepare students for a range of high-tech jobs.
The two new certificate programs will be available this fall in 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 skills are increasingly essential for workers to apply a growing set of artificial intelligence tools. study According to a study by the IBM Institute of Business Value, executives estimate that AI and automation will require 40% of their workforce to be reskilled over the next three years, primarily in entry-level positions.
“Community colleges play a critical role in advancing the adoption of critical technology skills for the workforce,” said Lydia Logan, IBM vice president of global education and workforce development, in the company’s press release. “With these new credentials, IBM is helping learners gain the skills employers are looking for in a new AI-driven workplace.”
The certificates were designed by academic and industry experts to make them accessible to a wide range of learners interested in preparing for jobs such as: information security analyst, network security technician, data visualization specialist, and entry-level marketing analyst.
Certification programs will be available to recent graduates and workers looking to upgrade or change careers. Eligible candidates may have a high school diploma or GED, an associate’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree in a non-technical field.
Each certificate’s learning plan is 60 to 65 hours long and is structured to fit into a community college curriculum. The American Council on Education has analyzed the certificates and recommends that 12 credits be awarded for the IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity certificate and 8 credits be awarded for the IBM SkillsBuild Data Analytics certificate.
The new certificates will require successful completion of the following courses:
IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity Certificate: governance, risk, compliance and data privacy, vulnerability management, systems and network security, cloud security, security operations management, incident response and systems 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.
In addition, students will have access to other IBM SkillsBuild courses and degrees, including 1,000+ free courses on AI, sustainability, cybersecurity, data analytics, cloud computing, and professional skills.
The new certificates were first successfully tested with students in Alabama, Colorado, California and Louisiana in 2023.
IBM said the partnership with community colleges is part of its skills-based approach and also reflects the commitment It was launched in 2021 to provide 30 million people with the new skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow by 2030.
