Mocs News Reporting the news that matters most to UTC
By Thea Marshall
CHATTANOOGA (mocsnews.com)— UTC’s College of Engineering and Computer Science announced Tuesday Nov. 30 the launch of a CyberSecurity Workforce Certification Training Program (CWCT). It is supported by a $9.8 million grant from the U.S. NSA and Department of Homeland Security.
Chancellor Steven Angle said there is a global demand for cybersecurity positions. There is a global shortage of 3 million positions, over 460,000 nationally, and the state of Tennessee has over 6,700 positions available. Chattanooga and the northern Georgia area have about 490 of these positions available.
“As the cybersecurity workforce landscape is continuously changing because of the increasing need of trained professionals, it is satisfying to know that UTC is responding to those needs and providing a solution,” said Dean of Engineering Daniel Pack.
The program intends to offer cybersecurity training in response to the employment demand that is said to increase 22-24% within the next five years. Cybersecurity professionals with five to eight years experience, make a national average of $99,000 a year.
“This is a really big deal folks,” said Chairman of the Electric Power Board Joe Ferguson. “We are delighted as an advisory board to see this and I’m sure it will do well here in Chattanooga.”
There are three CWCT tracks paid for by the grant including Digital Forensics, Cybersecurity Administration—Iot and AI Security available for non-degreed training. However, there is opportunity to pursue degree programs at participating colleges. There are five certifications earned per training path.
UTC College of Engineering and Computer Science and Center for Professional Education team up to offer and monitor the 10-week course. There are a total of 425 grant targeted applicants which has expanded to 850, 103 waitlisted and 922 are enrolled in the program.
The CWCT program started in Sept. 2020. They said they established a pilot Artificial Intelligence cybersecurity certification based national training program for military, first responders and other adult trainees wanting to transfer to cybersecurity careers. But the program is available to anyone interested in cybersecurity, regardless of work experience. Partners of this collaboration include Purdue University Northwest, Ivy Tech Community College, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and now, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
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