OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The College of Central Florida (CF) announced it received a six-figure grant which will be used to make improvements to its cybersecurity enhancement program.
According to a release from CF, they received a $302,105 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support of the increased need of professionals in the cybersecurity space.
They say the grant will be used to broaden awareness about cybersecurity careers as well as to upgrade the current equipment used in CF Information Technology (IT) classes.
Additionally, the college also plans to launch a 30-credit hour cybersecurity certificate program in fall of 2024. CF says the grant will also be used to fund internship opportunities for IT students with businesses in the local community. This will allow students to get paid for their work and receive “hands-on experience” at no cost to employers.
“Cybersecurity is high-demand field, and the local need for skilled IT professionals is only going to grow,” said Dr. Jennifer Fryns, vice president of Workforce Development and Innovation.
The funds will also be used as part of an awareness campaign to reach high school and adult students, as well as the entire community through outreach activities including an educational seminar on artificial intelligence (AI) in the spring of 2024.
CF says the NSF’s Advanced Technological Education (ATE) has helped fund innovation at two-year colleges for over 20 years.
“This generous investment from the National Science Foundation will allow us to provide CF graduates with cutting-edge skills and strategies, and also support local employers,” said Fryns.
If you’d like more information about CF’s IT degrees and certificates, click here.
To learn more about the NSF, you can click here.