(ISC)2 Unveils Worldwide Academic Partnership Program
Multi-Faceted Program Offers Academic Institutions Opportunities to Enhance Information Security Education for Students;(ISC)Â? Credential Holders to Benefit as Well
VIENNA, Virginia, U.S.A. – July 31 , 2003 – The International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)2, the non-profit international leader dedicated to training, qualifying and certifying information security professionals worldwide, today announced an (ISC)Â? Academic Partnership Program that offers several initiatives to universities and colleges around the world providing information security curricula. The program also benefits (ISC)Â? credential holders seeking to advance their information security education and careers.
The multi-faceted program provides academic institutions with the ability to enhance their information security education via scholarships, on-campus training and exams, academic credit for (ISC)2 certification-holders, e-learning, and professional experience credit for (ISC)2 certification candidates from approved academic institutions.
“As the premier information security training and certification organization, (ISC)2 is committed to partnering with academic institutions worldwide to ensure their students are introduced to the rigorous standards and ethics of the profession as early as possible,” said James E. Duffy, CISSP, executive director of (ISC)2 based in Vienna, Va.
“These universities may also qualify to offer (ISC)2 constituents opportunities to advance their education, as well as offer certification candidates credit to help meet their professional experience requirements,” Duffy said.
Founded in 1989 by leading information security executives, (ISC)2 administers the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), considered the Gold Standard of certifications for management-level information security professionals, and the Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) for cyber-security professionals implementing security policy. The certifications are awarded based on a candidate’s understanding of the CBK, (ISC)2’s living compendium of information security “best practices,” as well meeting professional experience requirements and agreeing to adhere to (ISC)2’s Code of Ethics.
Elements of the (ISC)2 Academic Partnership Program include:
(ISC)2 Information Security Scholarship
(ISC)Â? is offering four scholarships up to $12,500 apiece each academic year to provide financial assistance to students actively pursuing full-time post-graduate studies and research in the field of information security.
On-Campus (ISC)2 Training and Exams
This initiative allows select academic institutions to offer official (ISC)Â? training and exams on-campus to students enrolled in information security curricula. Additionally, colleges and universities can offer students entrance into the Associate of (ISC)2 program which allows those who pass the CISSP or SSCP exams to achieve “Associate” status with (ISC)2 until they acquire the requisite years of professional work experience to become fully credentialed.
Academic Credit for (ISC)2 Certifications
Through the (ISC)Â? Academic Partnership Program, universities and colleges are encouraged to offer college credit for students holding (ISC)2 credentials.
e-Learning
(ISC)2 is offering on-line information security curricula based upon (ISC)Â?’s CBK to selected academic institutions through the (ISC)Â? Authorized Academic Education Center. The first courseware, co-developed by (ISC)Â? and St. Petersburg College, offers online SSCP training to colleges and universities.
(ISC)Â? Professional Experience Credit for Academic Degrees
(ISC)Â? will offer certification candidates professional experience credit for academic degrees earned from approved colleges and universities.
Additional information, and inaugural partners when appropriate, will be announced in the coming weeks for each initiative. For the latest information on the (ISC)Â? Academic Partnership Program, interested parties should contact Anthony Baratta, CISSP, director of (ISC)Â? professional programs, at abaratta@isc2.org .
About (ISC)Â?
Based in Vienna, Virginia, USA with offices in London and Hong Kong, the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, Inc. (ISC)2 is the premier organization dedicated to providing information security professionals worldwide. Since its inception in 1989, the non-profit organization has trained, qualified, and certified thousands of information security professionals in more than 90 countries and has advocated the need for one industry-wide information security standard. More information about (ISC)2 is available at www.isc2.org .