IBM to Co-Create Cybersecurity Leadership Centers at 20 HBCUs

IBM is working with 20 historically Black colleges and universities across the country to help establish Cybersecurity Leadership Centers that will provide students and faculty with training and certification resources at no cost. The project expands on six HBCU partnerships the company announced in May, as part of its pledge to train 150,000 people in cybersecurity over the next three years.

Faculty and students at participating schools will have free access to cybersecurity coursework, lectures, immersive training experiences, certifications, IBM Cloud-hosted software, and professional development, the company explained in a news announcement. Among the resources and services available:

  • IBM will develop a customized IBM Security Learning Academy portal for each participating HBCU, offering courses to complement their existing cybersecurity education portfolio.
  • IBM will continue to provide access to IBM SkillsBuild, a free digital platform that provides learning, support and resources for individuals seeking entry-level employment.
  • Faculty and students can experience an immersive, simulated cyberattack through IBM Security Command Center, to help train them on preparation and response techniques.
  • Faculty will receive consultation sessions with IBM technical personnel on cybersecurity.
  • Participants will have access to multiple IBM Security enterprise security products hosted in the IBM Cloud.
  • Professional development forums will allow participants to share best practices, learn from IBM experts, and discover IBM internships and job openings.

Participating HBCUs include: Alabama A&M University, Talladega College, Tuskegee University, Edward Waters University, Florida A&M University, Albany State University, Clark Atlanta University, Grambling State University, Southern University System, Xavier University of Louisiana, Bowie State University, Morgan State University, Alcorn State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, South Carolina State University, Voorhees University, Texas Southern University, Norfolk State University, and West Virginia State University.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • interconnected cloud icons with glowing lines on a gradient blue backdrop

    Report: Cloud Certifications Bring Biggest Salary Payoff

    It pays to be conversant in cloud, according to a new study from Skillsoft The company's annual IT skills and salary survey report found that the top three certifications resulting in the highest payoffs salarywise are for skills in the cloud, specifically related to Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Nutanix.

  • a hobbyist in casual clothes holds a hammer and a toolbox, building a DIY structure that symbolizes an AI model

    Ditch the DIY Approach to AI on Campus

    Institutions that do not adopt AI will quickly fall behind. The question is, how can colleges and universities do this systematically, securely, cost-effectively, and efficiently?

  • minimalist geometric grid pattern of blue, gray, and white squares and rectangles

    Windows Server 2025 Release Offers Cloud, Security, and AI Capabilities

    Microsoft has announced the general availability of Windows Server 2025. The release will enable organizations to deploy applications on-premises, in hybrid setups, or fully in the cloud, the company said.

  • digital brain made of blue circuitry on the left and a shield with a glowing lock on the right, set against a dark background with fading binary code

    AI Dominates Key Technologies and Practices in Cybersecurity and Privacy

    AI governance, AI-enabled workforce expansion, and AI-supported cybersecurity training are three of the six key technologies and practices anticipated to have a significant impact on the future of cybersecurity and privacy in higher education, according to the latest Cybersecurity and Privacy edition of the Educause Horizon Report.