/news-archive/tag/workforce-development/ 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Wed, 23 Mar 2022 14:26:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /news-archive/2022/03/23/cyber-learning-network/ Wed, 23 Mar 2022 14:26:38 +0000 /news/?p=81200 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Awarded $1.96 Million Workforce Development Grant to Support a Regional Cyber Learning Network]]> cybersecurity. The CyberLearN partners include 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, 糖心Vlog传媒 Pine Bluff, 糖心Vlog传媒 – Pulaski Technical College, 糖心Vlog传媒 Cossatot, 糖心Vlog传媒 Hope-Texarkana, 糖心Vlog传媒CC Batesville, and 糖心Vlog传媒CC Morrilton. The Forge Institute, the Arkansas Center for Data Sciences, and SmartResume are also collaborating on the initiative. Gov. Asa Hutchinson awarded a total of $7.9 million in Large-Scale Workforce Development Grants to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and eight other organizations during a March 15 press conference at the Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce. The grants were funded by the , a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce. “We don’t have an unlimited source of funds in Arkansas for workforce training, so we want to invest it wisely,” Gov. Hutchinson said. “And you do that by partnering with industry to guide our training, our funding, so that it results in jobs.鈥� CyberLearN leverages shared resources for the purposes of expanding and diversifying cyber workforce education in Arkansas. The consortium will provide more equitable access to cybersecurity education for Arkansas learners, aligning freshman and sophomore cybersecurity curriculum with ABET, a national accreditation board, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology Standards. CyberLearN partners will share instruction and create a common learning experience through standardized, hybrid-flexible learning spaces that will utilize the cloud-based . 鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock is proud to lead in creating the Cyber Learning Network, which will put Arkansas on the map for cybersecurity workforce education,鈥� said Dr. Erin Finzer, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs. 鈥淭his new consortium among academic and nonprofit partners will serve as a model to provide collaborative education and training opportunities across the state. We thank Gov. Hutchinson and the Office of Skills Development for this investment in Arkansas鈥檚 economic security and for providing our state with cyber talent for many years to come.鈥� CyberLearN will drive economic development opportunities by providing robust talent pathways and creating opportunities to spur creative innovations. Arkansas currently has more than 3,000 unfilled cybersecurity positions listed on LinkedIn, and that number is expected to continue to grow. Now that Arkansas鈥檚 broadband initiatives have provided more internet access across the state, there are more opportunities for cybersecurity professionals to work remotely, which can provide a boost for rural communities. The workforce development grant builds on 鈥媡he commitment and spirit of last year鈥檚 糖心Vlog传媒 System announcement of a $900,000 CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce鈥檚 Economic Development Administration (EDA) to boost the state鈥檚 鈥媠tatewide workforce recovery from the economic impact of COVID-19 鈥媑rowth through the creation of the 糖心Vlog传媒 System Workforce Response and Training Center. That grant included nine 糖心Vlog传媒 System institutions, led by the Arkansas Economic Development Institute (AEDI) at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, to collect and analyze statewide workforce data and use outcomes to provide existing and bolstered education and training efforts through all seven of the 糖心Vlog传媒 System鈥檚 two-year colleges, along with two colleges of technology at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (糖心Vlog传媒M). 鈥淭his is a shining example of the synergy that鈥檚 possible by harnessing 糖心Vlog传媒 System resources in a collaborative and innovative fashion to continue bolstering the 鈥媑rowth of a world-class, highly skilled workforce in Arkansas,鈥� said Chris Thomason, vice president for planning and development for the 糖心Vlog传媒 System. 鈥淲hen we鈥檙e able to pool the resources and talent within the 糖心Vlog传媒 System 鈥媍lose to Arkansas citizens and in our communities, the momentum that鈥檚 created can have a much larger impact on the state鈥檚 economic growth and within Arkansas families.鈥� In order to support this economic and workforce development potential, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and its academic partners are providing stackable certificates, which are a set of professional credentials that can be stacked into more advanced certificate and degree programs or may be earned by Arkansas workers wishing to upskill or reskill. Stackable certificates are an innovative way for institutions of higher education to serve working students by providing them with distinct skill sets and manageable motivators on their way to a two-year or four-year degree. “COVID has changed a lot of how we operate in higher education, and this program shows a positive adaptation in meeting the needs of today鈥檚 learners,鈥� said Dr. Philip Huff, assistant professor of cybersecurity at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淭he workforce needed in cybersecurity is so great right now, and we can’t simply tell the industry to wait four more years for us to provide you with a pipeline of talent when they need it yesterday. These stackable certificates address the immediate need, and also open up new academic paths if a student chooses to continue their education.鈥� The certificate programs, the first of which is pending approval for the Fall 2022 semester, include two certificates of proficiency in cybersecurity fundamentals that 鈥渟tack鈥� into a technical certificate and associate degree. By completing these foundational certificates, learners will be ready to enroll in upper-level specialized certificates in areas like data security, digital forensics, cybersecurity operations, and software security. These certificates are designed to provide college students and workers with a road to lifelong learning with personalized pathways to learn skills that meet both learner and employer needs. 鈥淗igher education should seize every viable opportunity to increase efficiency in the delivery of educational services contributing to workforce education. CyberLearN is exactly this kind of opportunity,鈥� Dr. Albert Baker, chair of the Department of Computer Science at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淚t has been, and continues to be, energizing to collaborate on this opportunity to build efficiencies in the development of the Arkansas workforce in the emerging and evermore critically important cybersecurity industry.鈥� While 糖心Vlog传媒 System campuses will provide space and construction and renovation costs for the training operation centers, the grant will provide computer equipment and supplies, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Cyber Arena cloud access for all students, curriculum and instructional design, and tuition and fees for 100 new learners. An additional eight more scholarships will go to instructors from two-year colleges to earn 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 new graduate certificate in cybersecurity education in an effort to expand the cybersecurity teacher workforce in the state. Dr. Steve Cole, chancellor of 糖心Vlog传媒 Cossatot, said one of his biggest worries is how to combat the cyber-attacks that are happening all around the world. This new partnership with CyberLearN will bring education and training opportunities directly to 糖心Vlog传媒 Cossatot and other two-year colleges across the state. Having a skilled workforce that can respond to cyber threats will ensure a resilient economy in Arkansas. 鈥淐ybercrime just doesn’t touch large corporations, it even touches the small business owner with one employee,鈥� Cole said. 鈥淭o combat cybercrime, we must build a workforce of cybersecurity experts, and CyberLearN seeks to address this huge skills gap. Community colleges like ours find it extremely difficult sometimes to start new, technology-rich programs due to the high costs involved and the lack of available instruction, but a collaborative effort like CyberLearN allows us to tap into the talent at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and the Forge Institute to offer cybersecurity programming in our rural area. I am confident that, without this effort it would be difficult to offer a world-class program like this to many rural parts of the state like ours.鈥漖]> /news-archive/2021/04/07/ua-system-aedi-workforce-training-grant/ Wed, 07 Apr 2021 15:23:56 +0000 /news/?p=78722 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 System Awarded $900,000 Workforce Training Grant]]> Nine 糖心Vlog传媒 System institutions will collaborate on the project, led by the Arkansas Economic Development Institute (AEDI) at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, to collect and analyze statewide workforce data and use outcomes to provide existing and bolstered education and training efforts through all seven of the 糖心Vlog传媒 System鈥檚 two-year colleges, along with two colleges of technology at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (糖心Vlog传媒M). 鈥淭his project is groundbreaking on many levels, especially in the showcase of power that鈥檚 possible by the 糖心Vlog传媒 System harnessing resources in a collaborative and innovative fashion for the greater good,鈥� said Chris Thomason, vice president for planning and development for the 糖心Vlog传媒 System. 鈥淏ut most important is the positive impact this project will have on those adversely affected by the unprecedented disruption of the economy and the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. By identifying the specific needs of Arkansas communities and matching those with workforce training being offered by the 糖心Vlog传媒 System鈥檚 seven two-year colleges and colleges of technology, we are truly promoting the 糖心Vlog传媒 System鈥檚 mission of serving and providing educational and professional opportunities for all Arkansans.鈥� The $900,000 EDA grant, which will be matched with $225,000 of local investment, will fund the development of a workforce training strategy with a special emphasis on technological skills that boosts community recovery efforts in Pulaski County and eventually across the state. It also enables the creation of the 糖心Vlog传媒 System Workforce Response and Training Center (糖心Vlog传媒-WRTC), which will consist of a consortium of 糖心Vlog传媒 System entities aligned to maximize existing training efforts that will be deployed in a data-driven, collaborative format. The project鈥檚 goal is to focus on identifying workforce populations most impacted by the pandemic through data, and then aligning skills training opportunities for retraining and reemployment to support community pandemic recovery. 鈥淧roviding the tools and resources that communities need to recover from the economic impact of COVID-19 is a top priority for EDA,鈥� said Dennis Alvord, acting assistant secretary of commerce for economic development. 鈥淏y working through the University of Arkansas System and its array of diverse colleges and universities across the state, this project checks all of the boxes on our goals to begin moving the country out of this pandemic and into recovery.鈥� AEDI will operate as the lead data gathering and analyst hub, and 糖心Vlog传媒-WRTC will utilize the comprehensive, historical documentation of the impact of COVID-19 on the state. With the initial focus being Pulaski County, the effort will then spread statewide to develop workforce training strategies that promote expedited economic recovery and sustained growth. Once AEDI identifies the high-demand employer workforce needs, the full portfolio of existing training and credential programs across the entire 糖心Vlog传媒 System two-year institutions and at 糖心Vlog传媒M鈥檚 colleges of technology will be matched to best meet the workforce training need. 鈥淎EDI will foster the development of an industry training alliance comprised of regional employers and 糖心Vlog传媒-WRTC institutions to identify critical economic infrastructure needs to sustain and grow workforce training programs for the region,鈥� said Jim Youngquist,听executive director of AEDI at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淪pecial emphasis will be placed on technology and training simulators that will support the success of the centralized training model while ensuring that delivery of training will not be disrupted by future pandemic events.鈥� Youngquist said as the home of the Arkansas State Data Center, AEDI and its existing emphasis on supporting economic research data analysis positions his agency perfectly to lead the collaborative 糖心Vlog传媒 System effort. 鈥淲e will听be developing a database that will track all aspects of identifying skill sets and jobs available for the underemployed, unemployed and hard-to-employ, all within the corridors of Little Rock where lower per-capita income and unemployment exists,鈥� he said. 鈥淥nce the model is designed, implemented and successful, we will use AEDI鈥檚 statewide data to replicate regional training models across Arkansas to have the same impact. This will allow for a network of regional centers of excellence that will be easily accessible by all Arkansans.鈥� The collaboration includes:听 糖心Vlog传媒 System Two-Year Institutions

• Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas
• University of Arkansas Community College at Hope-Texarkana
• University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville
• Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas
• University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton
• University of Arkansas Community College at Rich Mountain
• University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College

Other 糖心Vlog传媒 System Entities

• University of Arkansas at Monticello
• University of Arkansas at Little Rock
• Arkansas Economic Development Institute

鈥淲orkforce development plays a critical role in helping citizens develop necessary skills to secure well-paying jobs and听ensuring听our state continues to attract and retain employers,鈥� said U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark. 鈥淭his funding will bolster our economic recovery and put hardworking Arkansans in a good position to provide for their families.鈥� The collaborative project is funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provided the EDA with $1.5 billion for economic assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.]]> /news-archive/2021/01/26/forge-institute-cybersecurity-partnership/ Tue, 26 Jan 2021 19:11:10 +0000 /news/?p=78217 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Partners with Forge Institute to Grow Skilled Cybersecurity Workforce]]> The University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the Forge Institute have partnered to strengthen the cybersecurity workforce development in Arkansas by providing academic credit for those who complete professional development courses in cybersecurity at the Forge Institute. Under the terms of the recently signed collaboration agreement, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock will award successful graduates of the Forge Institute鈥檚 IT/Cybersecurity Fundamentals certificate academic credit towards a bachelor鈥檚 degree in computer science or cybersecurity at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淭his is truly an exciting and innovative opportunity for the IT workforce in Arkansas,鈥� said Dr. Al Baker, chair of the Department of Computer Science at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淚 thank Forge Institute for providing invaluable advice as we have built our programs and curricula in cybersecurity in the Department of Computer Science. The partnership is strong and growing.鈥� Each institution has thoroughly reviewed the curriculum and mapped academic requirements to corresponding aspects of Forge Institute鈥檚 professional development program.听 The first Forge Institute course that is eligible for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock course credit is IT/Cyber Fundamentals. Those participants who successfully complete the Forge Institute course can receive three hours of academic credit for CSEC 1310, Intro to Cybersecurity, which is a required course for the bachelor鈥檚 degree in cybersecurity. 鈥淲e are excited to further expand our partnership with Professor Philip Huff, Dr. Al Baker, Dr. Erin Finzer, and the team at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� said Lee Watson, chairman and CEO of Forge Institute. 鈥淭his rather unique relationship will further cement Arkansas as a leader in cybersecurity and help provide the skilled talent pipeline required by the private and public sector employers.鈥� 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is designated an academic center of excellence by the National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 鈥淭his is an exciting collaboration for us as we begin a new Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity degree in the fall,鈥� said Philip Huff, professor of cybersecurity in the Department of Computer Science. 鈥淭he overwhelming demand for cybersecurity professionals requires us to reimagine how we in higher education design our programs. This partnership between 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and Forge Institute creates a two-way path between cybersecurity professionals and our cybersecurity degree program programs. We are working together to prepare students for an exciting and challenging profession.鈥� For more information, visit . In the upper right photo, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock visitors tour the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Cyber Gym, which opened in December 2019. Photo by Ben Krain.]]>