By Morgan Montalvo
WOAI News
Social media giant Facebook and Texas A&M University-San Antonio are launching a cooperative cyber-security program to train tomorrow’s computer network protection specialists, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The initiative will feature a 12-week course designed to teach TAMUSA students the latest in cyber-threat protection techniques, and include a corporate training certificate, says Stephanie Siteman, a Facebook computer security manager who manages similar partnerships at other institutions and will oversee the local partnership.
Siteman says the certification will be equally valuable to students seeking either public- or private-sector cyber-security careers.
“I think it can be geared toward everyone,“ Siteman tells News Radio 1200 WOAI, ”and a lot of the students we have in many of our different universities are already directed toward the government sector. And we think security is important at all facets and levels.”
David Velez is one the first three students to sign up for the new program. He says as someone who left college, spent time in computer sales, then returned to school, the Facebook-sponsored course can help him stand out among fellow job-seekers when graduation approaches and it’s time to “float” resumes.
"Computer-industry recruiters," Velez says, “really test your knowledge and understanding, like, ‘Okay, so how do you do this – how do you list out directories? What kind of tools would you use to attack? Here, take this marker, go to this board, write me a formula on how to prevent these situations.’" Based on initial success, the partnership can expand to additional courses and a multi-year program, Siteman says.