COLORADO — IBM (NYSE: IBM ) today announced two new IBM SkillsBuild certifications in cybersecurity and data analytics that were piloted and designed in collaboration with community colleges. These new IBM SkillsBuild certifications will be available this fall to students 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 essential for artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, enabling professionals to unlock insights, protect critical information, drive informed decisions, and create value across industries in a data-centric and increasingly security-conscious world. According to a global survey conducted by the IBM Institute of Business Value, executives estimate that 40% of their workforce will need to be skilled in the next three years to adopt AI and automation, most of whom are in entry-level roles. This highlights the importance of building public-private partnerships to close the skills gap.
“Community colleges play a critical role in accelerating the adoption of essential technology skills in the workforce,” said Lydia Logan, vice president of global education and talent development for IBM’s corporate social responsibility division. “With these new credentials, IBM is helping learners gain the in-demand skills employers are looking for in the new AI-enabled workplace.”
The certificate is designed to meet learner needs and was developed in collaboration with academic and industry experts. Community college programs can integrate the certificate into their existing curriculum to allow students to earn credit.
Designed to meet learner needs: These certifications can be earned by first-time degree seekers, upskillers, or career changers with a high school diploma or GED, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree in a non-technical field. Self-paced, experiential learning at all levels effectively prepares students for potential job opportunities such as junior information security analyst, network security technician, data visualization specialist, and entry-level marketing analyst. Developed in collaboration with academic and industry experts: Jobs for the Future (JFF) and a coalition of industry experts worked together to validate the new competency-based IBM SkillsBuild certifications, aligning coursework and learning content to current employer demands and market trends and expectations to maximize students’ job opportunities upon completion. Experts included employers such as banks and technology companies, as well as representatives from schools and education nonprofits across the country. Integrate into existing community college programs to earn college credit: Each certificate learning plan is 60-65 hours long and can be integrated into community college curricula. The American Council on Education (ACE) conducted a learning assessment review of the certificates and recommended 12 credits for completion of the IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity Certificate and 8 credits for completion of the IBM SkillsBuild Data Analytics Certificate. The coursework also aligns with the topics and skills of the CompTIA SEC+ certification, making it recognized by potential employers.
To earn the new IBM SkillsBuild certification, you must complete the following courses:
IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity Certificates: Governance, Risk, Compliance, 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, organizational usefulness of data, inferential and descriptive statistics, data collection and analysis, data preparation for analysis, data visualization and presentation.
Additionally, students will have access to IBM SkillsBuild, which includes additional certifications and more than 1,000 free courses in AI, sustainability, cybersecurity, data analytics, cloud computing and workplace skills.
The new certificate was successfully piloted in 2023 with students in Alabama, Colorado, California and Louisiana.
“Alabama Community Colleges partnered with IBM to pilot a cybersecurity certificate because there was a strong need for an entry-level, competency-based credential to help students get started on their path to IT careers,” said Dr. Courtney Monette, special programs projects director for the Alabama Community College System. “In 2021, Alabama adopted a skills-based workforce training program called Mobilizing Alabama Pathways (MAP), which provides new and returning adult education and career pathways students the opportunity to earn credentials such as the IBM SkillsBuild Cyber Security or Data Analytics Certificate, building confidence and foundational employability skills in all high-demand, high-paying career clusters.”
“Using the IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity Certification in two Community Education Cybersecurity Foundations courses piloted at Diablo Valley College last fall and spring semester was a beneficial experience for the student participants, myself, and 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. “The certification supported the college’s decision to offer the course as part of its academic program this coming school year. The certification was an excellent introduction to cybersecurity. While the majority of participants have strengthened their academic credentials and pursued further studies, several of the course’s “career changers” have used their success in class to land technical support positions with local companies. The rich course content and approach, with its emphasis on verbal and written communication skills, were key factors in building students’ confidence in obtaining these jobs.”
“Front Range Community College is excited to be one of four colleges nationwide to collaborate on the design and implementation of the new IBM SkillsBuild Data Analytics Certification,” said Dr. Colleen Simpson, President of Front Range Community College. “This collaboration with IBM, a renowned technology leader, will provide our students with the opportunity to gain critical skill sets in this rapidly growing field.”
“Baton Rouge Community College was excited to work with IBM to pilot this initiative last year,” said BRCC President Dr. Willie E. Smith. “We look forward to continuing this collaboration and working with IBM to expand this initiative and make it available to Louisianans through the Louisiana Community College System. Through this collaboration, we are demonstrating our commitment to equipping our residents with the skills and hands-on experience they need 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 fast-growing fields, ensuring our talent is prepared to overcome challenges and seize the opportunities of the future.”
“In an increasingly dynamic economy shaped by rapidly evolving technology, employers, learners and workers need agile, reliable ways to acquire and validate skills that will lead to the quality jobs of the future,” said Joel Vargas, vice president of education affairs at JFF. “JFF is proud to work with IBM and these innovative universities to lead the way in creating a scalable solution that meets this growing need.”
IBM’s work with community colleges is a key component of the company’s pioneering skills-first approach and is part of the company’s commitment to provide 30 million people with new skills for the jobs of the future by 2030.
About IBM SkillsBuild
IBM SkillsBuild is a free education program designed to increase access to technology education. Through the program, IBM helps adult learners, high school and college students, and faculty build valuable new skills and access career opportunities. The program includes an online platform complemented by customized, hands-on learning experiences delivered in collaboration with a global network of partners.
The open version of IBM SkillsBuild is an online platform offering more than 1,000 courses in 20 languages across AI, sustainability, cybersecurity, data analytics, cloud computing and many other technical fields, as well as workplace skills such as design thinking. Participants can earn IBM-branded digital credentials that are recognized in the market.
The expanded 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 throughout the learning process, and connections to career opportunities. For more information, visit skillsbuild.org.
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