TAMPA, FL, (August 30, 2022): Fifteen Kean University students and recent graduates this summer are studying for cybersecurity certifications in a virtual pilot program offered free of charge through the University’s Center for Cybersecurity.
Kean, a public university located in Union, New Jersey, is an Academia Partner with EC-Council, a global cybersecurity education and certification organization. EC-Council developed the “Essential Series” program to offer cybersecurity training materials and certifications for individuals who wish to start entry-level careers in cybersecurity.
The students, who are studying computer science, information technology and criminal justice at Kean, are enrolled this summer in three certification courses – Network Defense Essentials, Ethical Hacking Essentials, and Digital Forensics Essentials.
“As a complement to a student’s academic coursework at Kean, a technical certification can be a valuable addition in the job market,” said Stan Mierzwa from the Kean Center for Cybersecurity. “Response from Kean students to the program was strong, and their willingness to take on extra coursework over the summer shows how dedicated they are to building their knowledge and skills in the cybersecurity field.”
To launch the pilot program, the Center for Cybersecurity collaborated with Kean’s Office of Transformational Learning and Office of Computer and Information Services to make the materials available online.
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“This is a great example of how institutions can proactively engage students from multiple degrees and concentrations with cross-disciplinary cybersecurity skills that align to the standard work roles,” said Wesley Alvarez, Director of Academics at EC-Council. “We see more interest to upskill students in these critical cybersecurity domains across finance, criminal justice, business, and other fields. The Essentials Series offers Academia partners an opportunity to do this completely free.”
Khanjan Patel, of Roselle Park, graduated this year from Kean with his master’s degree in computational science and engineering after receiving his bachelor’s degree from the University the year before. He said the flexibility of the online course appealed to him.
“The EC-Council’s free cybersecurity training has helped me develop my knowledge in the fundamental concepts of Network Security. I can watch the course at my own pace and at a convenient time,” he said. “I recommend this course to anyone who is a student or a professional who wants to get into cybersecurity as the field is growing exponentially.”
Yisel Domenech, of Bayonne, who graduated from Kean in May with a degree in Information Technology, said the program has given her an edge in a competitive job market.“The certifications will definitely open the door to more job opportunities for recent graduates like myself,” Domenech said.
Yolanda Sanchez, of Elizabeth, a Kean senior studying information technology/cybersecurity, said she is grateful for the free cybersecurity training stating,
“I can’t wait to use the knowledge I gained in the near future!”
At the end of the summer, the students will be prepared to take these certification exams. All students involved in the pilot program will be sent a survey to assess the program, and the survey results will be used to further develop the Essentials Series program offerings across Kean University.
About Kean University
Founded in 1855, Kean University is one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher education in the region, with a richly diverse student, faculty and staff population. Kean continues to play a key role in the training of teachers and is a hub of educational, technological and cultural enrichment serving more than 16,000 students. The University’s six undergraduate colleges offer more than 50 undergraduate degrees over a full range of academic subjects. The Nathan Weiss Graduate College offers six doctoral degree programs and more than 80 options for graduate study leading to master’s degrees, professional diplomas or certifications. With campuses in Union, Toms River, Jefferson and Manahawkin, New Jersey, and Wenzhou, China, Kean University furthers its mission by providing an affordable and accessible world-class education. Visit www.kean.edu.
About EC-Council Academia
The EC-Council Academia partner program, led by EC-Council’s academic division, offers free partnership opportunities to academic institutions globally. These partnerships establish cybersecurity education ecosystems that support students, alumni, faculty, employees, and communities. Through established partnerships, academic institutions can access extensive discounts on content, evaluate learning resources, offer student-stackable credentials, initiate faculty development, provide scholarships, and facilitate cyber competitions. To date, EC-Council supports upwards of 2,500 education networks and institutions globally, with over 1,000 recently participating since the relaunch of the academia program in 2018. EC-Council works with many top cybersecurity programs worldwide, including Western Governors University, the University of Maryland Global Campus, the NATO School, many National Centers of Academic Excellence, statewide education systems, and many ministry initiatives. EC-Council’s Academia partner program helps certify tens of thousands of students annually with industry-leading credentials. For more information on EC-Council Academia, please visit www.eccouncil.org/academia.
