University Partnership to Fill Skills Gap in Cybersecurity, Coding
The bioscience, aviation, aerospace and energy industries have a large presence in Oklahoma, causing highly sensitive information to exchange hands every day and creating a need for highly skilled cybersecurity and coding professionals. The University of Oklahoma, in partnership with Fullstack Academy, is working to fill the state’s skills gap in these areas through a series of online bootcamps offered through OU Outreach/College of Continuing Education.
“In the U.S. and around the world, the gap in tech skills is rapidly widening, so Fullstack Academy partners with the world’s leading universities to bring the ‘best-in-class’ courses and programs to students and communities,” said Belinda Biscoe, interim senior associate vice president of OU Outreach/College of Continuing Education. “We are pleased to bring this partnership to the University of Oklahoma and the state of Oklahoma.”
Live Online OU Outreach Tech Bootcamps will train early career and experienced professionals of any tech level for the thousands of high-paying, in-demand jobs in cybersecurity and coding available throughout the state and beyond. They can be completed in just 26 weeks.
The OU Outreach Cyber Tech Bootcamp will teach students how to monitor and secure systems, networks and applications, as well as deploy offensive tactics and defensive tactics needed to appropriately respond to cyber breaches.
The OU Outreach Coding Tech Bootcamp will teach full-stack JavaScript, giving students a foundation in both front- and back-end web development and the crucial programming skills needed for in-demand coding jobs.
In a letter to Fullstack Academy, Sean Kouplen, secretary of commerce and workforce with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, expressed his support for the program, saying it’s a great opportunity to grow the state’s workforce in cybersecurity and coding.
“Gov. Stitt and I are committed to further developing Oklahoma’s workforce, especially in high-growth areas like cybersecurity and coding,” Kouplen wrote. “We appreciate organizations like Fullstack Academy and the way you partner with higher education to bring new workforce development opportunities to individuals looking to further their careers.”
Nimit Maru, co-founder and co-CEO of Fullstack Academy, said the need for qualified coding and cybersecurity professionals to serve and protect these industries is paramount.
“Through an established academic institution in OU, the state’s top corporations and government agencies will have access to a larger and more qualified talent pool to fill the gap quickly in its growing economy,” Maru said.
Biscoe said she’s looking forward to seeing students thrive in their careers after completing the bootcamp programs.
“We’ve seen the impact that Fullstack Academy has had on helping develop qualified coding and cybersecurity talent,” Biscoe said. “Given our unique position within the state of Oklahoma, we felt it was imperative that we team with an exceptional organization that will attract job seekers and career changers throughout our state.”
The programs do not require OU enrollment or prior technical experience. Interested individuals can learn more at bootcamp.outreach.ou.edu.
By Tami Althoff
Article Published: Wednesday, December 2, 2020