Cybersecurity Talent Shortage in Northeast Florida to Receive Boost with New Fullstack Academy and University of North Florida Program

NEW YORK, March 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Fullstack Academy announced today that it has launched a new program with the University of North Florida to offset the current lack of professionals qualified to fill local cybersecurity jobs. The decision was made in part due to the recent success of Fullstack's inaugural UNF coding bootcamp, which equips beginners with the skills required to become web developers.

The new part-time, 26-week bootcamp will be the first of its kind in Jacksonville to teach cybersecurity skills to students seeking high-paying, in-demand tech jobs in Northeast Florida and beyond. The program comes in response to a 13 percent increase in cybersecurity jobs in Jacksonville over the past five years, according to economicmodeling.com. Currently, more than 3,000 cybersecurity positions remain unfilled in the region, with a 10 percent increase projected over the next decade. Glassdoor.com reports that companies currently seeking cybersecurity talent include large employers headquartered in Jacksonville such as CSX Corporation, FIS and Fidelity National Financial, among others. 

"As we acclimated ourselves with Jacksonville during the launch of our coding bootcamp, we noticed a large and growing skills gap that local businesses faced when trying to fill cybersecurity positions," said Nimit Maru, Fullstack Academy co-founder. "Cybercrime is one of the largest threats to society as we enter a new decade, and this program will help ensure Northeast Florida has access to qualified and trained professionals quicker than a more traditional education curriculum."

The cybersecurity program is designed for early career or experienced professionals, but is especially ideal for the 75,000 active-duty, reserve and civilian personnel that make up about 14 percent of Northeast Florida's workforce. 

"The program is a natural fit for veterans transitioning to their next career as no cybersecurity experience is required and there are parallels between the military profession and jobs that require protecting data for businesses and government," said Maru.   

Offered through UNF's Division of Continuing Education and scheduled to begin in June 2020, the Cyber Bootcamp at University of North Florida will feature mostly hands-on classes. The majority of students' time will be spent learning how to monitor and secure systems, networks and applications as well as how to deploy offensive and defensive tactics needed to appropriately respond to cyber breaches.

"Fullstack Academy has proven their effectiveness in launching similar programs across the country, demonstrating a proficiency for understanding this sector and developing educational curriculums that target this growth area," said Edythe M. Abdullah, Dean of UNF's Division of Continuing Education. "We saw tremendous interest in the coding bootcamp we developed with Fullstack Academy and expect this new program to generate similar participation and results."

About Fullstack Academy
Before Fullstack Academy came to life in 2012, co-founders David Yang and Nimit Maru worked as software engineers and engineering leaders at startups and large and mid-size companies. Over time, they realized that providing a high-quality, immersive coding education at an accelerated pace was not only impactful but also scalable. Fullstack Academy was founded with the idea that coding and software development have the power to positively influence communities and economies. Since then, Fullstack has expanded to Chicago and established the Grace Hopper Program, the first coding bootcamp in NYC to offer an inclusive and supportive community for women+-identifying applicants. A fast-growing company, Fullstack has developed partnerships with leading universities around the country and has added cybersecurity to its list of specialty bootcamp offerings. Graduates have gone on to work at Google, Facebook, Amazon, various Fortune 100 firms, and countless start-ups. More details can be found at fullstackacademy.com or at gracehopper.com. Fullstack Academy was acquired by Zovio in 2019.

About Zovio
Zovio (Nasdaq: ZVO) is an education technology services company that partners with higher education institutions and employers to deliver innovative, personalized solutions to help learners and leaders achieve their aspirations. The Zovio network, which includes Fullstack Academy, TutorMe, and Learn@Forbes, leverages its core strengths and applies its technology and capabilities to priority market needs.  Using advanced data and analytics, Zovio identifies the most meaningful ways to enhance the learner experience and deliver strong outcomes for higher education institutions, employers, and learners. Zovio's purpose is to help everyone be in a class of their own. For more information, visit www.zovio.com.

SOURCE Fullstack Academy