ISACA Foundation and the Caterpillar Foundation are partnering to provide instruction, mentorship and career development opportunities.
Schaumburg, IL, USA—To ready the next generation of learners for digital trust careers, ISACA and its ISACA Foundation are launching the Digital Trust-Workforce Inclusion Program (DT-WIP) in select cities across the United States, in partnership with the Caterpillar Foundation.
The program will serve five communities—Peoria, IL; Milwaukee, WI; Dallas, TX; Nashville, TN; and Atlanta, GA. ISACA will provide in-person instruction to more than 150 learners using the ISACA Information Technology Certified Associate (ITCA) and Certified in Emerging Technology (CET) certification coursework, as well as offer mentorship opportunities and host events such as panels and a job fair.
These courses cover ISACA’s Computing Fundamentals, Networks and Infrastructure Fundamentals, Cybersecurity Fundamentals, Software Development Fundamentals, Data Science Fundamentals, Cloud Fundamentals, Blockchain Fundamentals, Internet of Things (IoT) Fundamentals and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Fundamentals certificates.
“Digital trust roles, whether in audit, cybersecurity or other areas, all contribute to driving digital transformation forward and building confidence in the integrity of key elements of organizations’ digital ecosystems,” says Ajay Barot, ISACA Chief of Staff. “Enterprises across all industries need qualified professionals to fill these essential jobs, and we are committed to preparing the workforce of the future by providing them with education, credentials and a supportive community.”
Additionally, the ISACA Foundation will offer 90 continuing education stipends for participants to continue to enhance their learning, providing participants no-cost to low-cost ISACA membership and resources that will support their trajectories through training, placement, and career development.
Digital trust professions—including those in cybersecurity, privacy, risk, IT audit and governance—are valued and increasingly in demand. ISACA’s recent State of Digital Trust survey report found that 63 percent think that digital trust is relevant to their jobs. Four out of five respondents (82 percent) believe digital trust will be even more important in five years than it is today, and 28 percent say their organization will likely have a senior staff role dedicated to digital trust in five years.
This project aligns to the mission of ISACA’s academic and workforce development arm to drive impact in communities and support the next generation of learners who are looking to reskill/upskill, as well as with ISACA Foundation’s diversity, equity and inclusion-focused mission to provide underrepresented learners from both youth and adult communities a pathway to enter the IT workforce.
“There are systemic barriers that can keep people from accessing paths to digital trust roles, particularly those from underserved communities,” says Ginger Spitzer, ISACA Foundation executive director. “We believe that everyone deserves the chance to pursue these career opportunities, and that having a diverse and inclusive workforce from a range of backgrounds in these professions only makes those teams and organizations stronger.”
The goals of this educational program also fit with the mission of the Caterpillar Foundation to create the workforce of the 21st Century.
“The Caterpillar Foundation understands the importance of equipping individuals and communities with the skills, resources and services they need to thrive in our changing world,” says Caterpillar Foundation President Asha Varghese. “We are proud to partner with ISACA Foundation to provide digital upskilling opportunities for those that may otherwise lack access.”
To learn more about ISACA’s partnerships and efforts in workforce development, visit www.isaca.org/why-isaca/academic-partnership. To learn more about the ISACA Foundation, visit www.isaca.org/about-us/isaca-foundation.
About ISACA
ISACA® (www.isaca.org) is a global community advancing individuals and organizations in their pursuit of digital trust. For more than 50 years, ISACA has equipped individuals and enterprises with the knowledge, credentials, education, training and community to progress their careers, transform their organizations, and build a more trusted and ethical digital world. ISACA is a global professional association and learning organization that leverages the expertise of its more than 165,000 members who work in digital trust fields such as information security, governance, assurance, risk, privacy and quality. It has a presence in 188 countries, including 225 chapters worldwide. Through its foundation One In Tech, ISACA supports IT education and career pathways for underresourced and underrepresented populations.
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About the Caterpillar Foundation
Founded in 1952, Caterpillar's philanthropic organization, the Caterpillar Foundation, has contributed nearly $900 million to help make sustainable progress possible around the world by building resilient communities that thrive in a rapidly changing world. To learn more about the global impact of the Caterpillar Foundation, visit caterpillar.com/foundation. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media.
Contact:
Bridget Drufke, bdrufke@isaca.org, +1.847.660.5554
Emily Ayala, communications@isaca.org, +1.847.385.7223
