MITT, industry, and government announce ICT training initiative

Originally posted: December 17, 2019

 

 

At a cyber security event for local Manitoba business, global cyber security experts Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. announced MITT as its first Check Point Secure Academy in Canada. It is the latest chapter in their partnership with MITT—which has included more than $1 million in direct or VIK support (software, hardware, and services) to date—and one that will enhance student and industry access to MITT’s cyber and network security curricula, as well as its labs and testing facilities.

 

 

“During the past couple of years, as Check Point has deepened its relationship with MITT, we’ve been impressed time and time again by how dedicated they are to building a world-class suite of ICT programs and how willing they are to collaborate with industry to achieve those ends,” says Ronald Dekker, Country Leader, Canada, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. “We share a common goal of job creation within our industry, and a common understanding that successful entry and growth in this field begins with giving students the right combination of skill and practical experience while they’re still in school.”

At the same event, the Government of Manitoba pledged its multi-year support for MITT’s plan to create a Cyber Security Technical Centre of Excellence by 2022.

“Cyber attacks are on the rise, and experts predict that cybercrime damages will cost the world more than $6 trillion annually by 2021,” said Eichler. “Cyber security will continue to be a high-demand sector, with studies projecting 8,000 new jobs across Canada in the next two years alone.”

 

 

Millions of cyber attacks launch worldwide every day before most people have enjoyed their first cup of morning coffee. Staving off these attacks has spiked demand for network and cyber security professionals around the world: a need MITT is working to address through partnership with industry, government, and peer post-secondary institutions in Manitoba.

For several years now, MITT has grown its ICT offerings through direct collaboration with industry. In-demand diploma programs have been added to its stable of network security offerings. And a multi-year, multi-million-dollar technology acquisition program comprised of direct investment and value-in-kind support by MITT and various partners has allowed the college’s veteran ICT instructors to equip its cluster of training labs with industry-grade technology, as well as curricula that simulates the workplace, and set the stage for a virtual cyber security training environment in the near future.  This virtual training environment will allow MITT to project cyber threat scenarios and related education to rural and remote regions locally and abroad.   

Factored along with MITT’s specialized certification pathways for Microsoft, CISCO, VMWare and others, its partnership on the Pembina Trails Early College (PTEC), and its status as a Pearson Vue Test Centre, the foundation needed to launch the COE by 2022 is firmly in place.  

“The COE exemplifies what MITT strives to do every day in collaboration with industry, government, and allied stakeholders,” says MITT President and CEO Ray Karasevich. “Which is to look at needs and opportunities and find rapid solutions to address them. The future of the COE includes applied research, industry upskilling, establishing a virtual learning environment that students can access anytime, anywhere. And through partnerships we recently signed with the U of W and UCN, we will be able to reach more students across Manitoba and create opportunities to expand education in cyber security and network technologies across the province.”

 

MITT currently offers four ICT programs: a certificate in network computer technology, cyber defence and cloud administration and software developer diploma programs, and a network security diploma program offered jointly with the University of Winnipeg. The college is also active in welcoming companies such as Check Point and others to utilize its labs and is continually delivering shorter duration programming and micro-credentials. Combined, these programs support over 350 learners annually. MITT plans to continue to increase these offerings in conjunction with the COE, with the potential to more than double its capacity over the next five years. Current and future COE-related information can be found here.