IBM has announced a new collaboration with several community college systems to offer cybersecurity and data analytics training to prepare students for an array of hi-tech jobs.
The two new certificate programs will be made 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 skills are increasingly essential skills for workers to be able to apply a rapidly growing set of artificial intelligence tools. 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 the company’s 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 make them accessible for a wide range of leaners interested in preparing for jobs like the following: information security analyst, network security technician, data visualization specialist, and entry-level marketing analyst.
The certificate curricula will be available to first-time degree seekers and workers wanting 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 so that it can be integrated into a community college’s curriculum. The American Council on Education has analyzed the certificates and recommends that 12 credits be awarded for completion of the IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity Certificate and that 8 credits be awarded for the IBM SkillsBuild Data Analytics Certificate.
The new certificates will 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 be given access to other IBM SkillsBuild courses ad credentials, including more than 1,000 free courses on AI, sustainability, cybersecurity, data analytics, cloud computing, and workplace skills.
The new certificates were first piloted successfully with students in Alabama, Colorado, California, and Louisiana in 2023.
IBM said that partnering with community colleges is a component of its skills-first approach and also reflects the commitment it made in 2021 to provide 30 million people with new skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow by 2030.