MARQUETTE, MI-- The Upper Peninsula Cybersecurity Consortium has received $2.47 million in grants through the State of Michigan’s Marshall Plan for Talent.
The consortium is a collaboration between Northern Michigan University, industry and education partners to help develop talent for high-wage, high-demand cybersecurity careers.
Businesses and organizations need professionals to detect and prevent possible data breaches, but studies indicate a critical shortage of qualified personnel nationwide. The U.P. Cybersecurity Consortium will work with K-12 and intermediate school districts to prep students for careers in the industry through a badging system. Industry professionals will help to develop the curriculum for the competency badges and work through the institute to train teachers in five “anchor” school districts. Students can earn one to three badges then advance to the Cybersecurity Institute to obtain industry-certified credentials.
NMU will help fund a full-time staff member to coordinate activities at the institute. The grants will support a portion of that cost, along with curriculum creation, professional development for teachers, stipends for industry mentors, endorsement/certification fees and equipment for the institute and anchor school districts.
