One of the best parts about my role at ISACA is the chance to build new relationships that can truly lead to transformative progress in people’s learning paths and, ultimately, their careers.
To that end, I am excited to report that, this month, ISACA begins a new relationship with the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust – a nonprofit group that advances Puerto Rico’s economy through science, technology and innovation – on a partnership to provide skills-based training focused on emerging technologies. The collaboration will benefit IT professionals who are seeking to acquire knowledge in areas such as cloud, IoT, blockchain and AI – technologies that are the focal areas for ISACA’s Certified in Emerging Technology (CET) credential.
This 12-week pilot program, led by a virtual instructor, will cover all four modules of CET, allowing a cohort of students to emerge with CET certification. Additionally, Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust has identified corporate partners that will provide potential internship opportunities for students once they complete the program. This provides a holistic learning path for students, who will not only gain in-demand knowledge about emerging technology, but also the certification and guidance to put this knowledge to good use in their careers.
As Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust CEO Luz Crespo noted in a recent article, “With this certificate, we open the way to train our IT professionals on the island and supply a necessary component for employers in areas such as telecommunications, data, banking, security and health. This agreement advances the availability of the necessary workforce for Puerto Rico.”
Going forward, we intend to expand this pilot program by tapping the expertise and resources of ISACA’s Puerto Rico Chapter and perhaps involving other credentialing opportunities, such as ISACA®’s Information Technology Certified Associate™ (ITCA™).
Not only will this new relationship in Puerto Rico make a great impact for the students involved, it also is an example of the work ISACA is committed to doing more of to expand learning opportunities while helping people upskill and reskill to adapt to the evolving technology workforce. It builds upon recent academic collaborations we have embarked upon with institutions such as City Colleges of Chicago and New York University.
We aim to create more collaborations like the ones mentioned in this article, but there isn’t one specific recipe or formula for a successful partnership. ISACA is exploring a wide array of opportunities to provide meaningful learning programs that are impactful, provide new opportunities for students and align with our partners’ missions. We are receptive to working toward partnerships that enhance university degree programs, workforce development programs and continuing education programs as ISACA equips the next generation of technology professionals with the most relevant and in-demand learning opportunities.
If you have an idea for a new partnership, please reach out to me at abarot@isaca.org. I’d love to discuss further how ISACA can support academic institutions in your area.