New IBM SkillsBuild certificates aim to address the US tech talent shortage.
Front Range Community College (FRCC) is working to address the tech talent shortage by collaborating with IBM on a national initiative to offer new data analytics and cybersecurity certificates. These certificates are designed to meet the needs of learners and have been developed with academic and industry experts.
Cybersecurity and data analytics skills are essential for artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, enabling professionals to extract insights, secure critical information, drive informed decisions, and create value across industries in an increasingly data-centric and security-conscious world. As one of only four participants in IBM’s pilot certificate program in 2023, FRCC played a key role in helping to design and deliver new certificates in these two fields.
“Front Range Community College is honored to have been selected as one of four colleges nationally to collaborate in designing and launching IBM’s new SkillsBuild cybersecurity and data analytics credentials,” said FRCC President Colleen Simpson, EdD. “This collaboration with renowned technology leader IBM provides our students a phenomenal opportunity to develop critical skill sets in two rapidly growing fields.”
Closing the AI Skills Gap
According to a global study conducted by IBM Institute of Business Value, executives estimate that implementing AI and automation will require 40% of their workforce to reskill over the next three years, mostly those in entry-level positions. This underscores the importance of creating public-private partnerships to help close the skills gap.
“FRCC students benefit greatly from FRCC’s collaboration with IBM,” said Janel Highfill FRCC’s Associate VP of Workforce Development. “Together we’re educating our workforce with the skills that everyone should have today.”
Starting With Data Analytics
IBM selected FRCC in 2023 as one of four community colleges, to help design and pilot the new college-level industry certifications in data analytics.
The overwhelming quantity of data available today creates a need for professionals to learn how to evaluate its relevance and determine how to apply it to decisions at hand. These skills are becoming essential to a wide variety of jobs, in almost any industry. The ability to track, make sense of, and report on data is critical to increasing productivity, solving business problems, market growth and much more.
“Together IBM and FRCC are making sure students learn these essential skills,” said FRCC Faculty Member Kishore Menezes, PhD, who helped design the college’s courses. “Our students learn the ins and outs of data, while earning a highly respected credential from a premier company like IBM.”
“Thanks to our collaboration with IBM, Front Range Community College can give people who are starting their career—or looking to add new skills to advance professionally—the skills they need to succeed,” he added.
Expanding to Cybersecurity… and Beyond
Through this collaboration, FRCC added IBM’s cybersecurity credential to its offerings in spring 2024. The cybersecurity course offers foundational skills and a strong introduction to this growing career field, allowing students to learn the basics of cybersecurity before they commit to a full degree program.
Additionally, students in these programs have access to other IBM SkillsBuild credentials, including more than 1,000 free courses such as AI, cloud computing and workplace skills.
“Community colleges play a critical role in advancing the adoption of essential technology skills for the workforce,” said Lydia Logan, Vice President for Global Education and Workforce Development, IBM Corporate Social Responsibility. “With these new credentials, IBM is helping learners at FRCC gain the in-demand skills employers are seeking in a new AI-enabled workplace.”
A National Model
IBM SkillsBuild is a free education program aimed at increasing access to technology education. As the Colorado regional lead, FRCC helped design and pilot the IBM credential that can help maximize job opportunities for our graduates.
The new certificates from IBM SkillsBuild 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.
“We understand that cybersecurity and data analytics are essential skills to tomorrow’s workforce. That’s why IBM is investing in training programs to help students become job ready, at no cost. This is part of our commitment to train 30 million learners worldwide by 2030,” adds Gina King, IBM Senior State Executive Colorado.
Accessible Tech Education
These certificates are accessible for first-time degree seekers, upskillers, or career changers who hold a high school degree or GED, associate degree, or a bachelor’s degree in a non-technical field. Self-paced, experiential learning across all levels helps effectively prepare learners for potential job opportunities such as junior information security analyst, network security technician, data visualization specialist, and entry-level marketing analyst.
Jobs for the Future (JFF) and a coalition of industry experts contributed to and validated the new competency-based IBM SkillsBuild certificates to align coursework and learnings with current employer demand as well as trends and expectations in the market to maximize job opportunities for students upon completion. The experts included representatives from employers including banks and tech firms, as well as schools and education nonprofits nationwide.
Each certificate learning plan is 60-65 hours in length. The American Council on Education (ACE) has conducted a Learning Evaluation Review of the certificates and recommends 12 credits for completion of the IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity Certificate and 8 credits for the IBM SkillsBuild Data Analytics Certificate. The coursework also aligns with CompTIA SEC+ certification topics and skills and is recognized by potential employers.
FRCC is offering these courses in a non-credit format to current and former students as well as community members. Students pursue these credentials to increase their marketability as a job seeker, to get a feel for a potential new career direction or to upgrade their existing skills for career advancement. Students can also earn college credit for prior learning and training to jump start a college certificate or degree program.
About Front Range Community College
Front Range Community College offers more than 200 degrees and certificates in a wide variety of programs from locations in Boulder County, Larimer County and Westminster—as well as online. FRCC is a member of the Colorado Community College System.
About the Colorado Community College System
The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) is the state’s largest system of higher education, serving 114,000 students annually at 13 colleges and 35 locations across Colorado. Our open access mission ensures all Coloradans who aspire to enrich their lives have access to quality higher education opportunities.
