In recent years, the lack of cyber security experts in Africa has negatively impacted the continent as the digital technology world expands.
Even the majority of learners who are ready to learn lack willpower due to inadequate resources and well-versed expertise in the field.
The report also has it that Stopping hacking in Africa alone could save $4 billion a year.
According to the Digital Sprinters study, Africa stands to benefit from rapid economic growth through digital transformation by concentrating on, among other things, citizen skill development.
To help fill the need for cybersecurity expertise in Sub-Saharan Africa, Google has announced the launch of a Cybersecurity Certificate on Coursera. The course will aid digital transformation and economic development by providing students with in-demand technological skills and a total of 2,000 scholarships.
Cybersecurity expertise is in high demand across all industries. From just over 1 million in 2013, there are now an estimated 3.5 million cybersecurity job openings across the world.
As the globe grows more interconnected, cybersecurity dangers are on the increase, yet combating cybercrime in Africa can save $4 billion yearly. According to a recent poll, two-thirds of businesses have had trouble finding and maintaining experienced cyber specialists due to a lack of well-versed cybersecurity experts.
Google is dedicated to bolstering Africa’s cybersecurity by imparting our knowledge and facilitating more people’s entry into the field.
Read also: Mastercard partners with Ghana Cyber Security Authority to fight fraud
2,000 scholarships will be awarded to help learners
For this reason, Google is excited to announce the launch of a new online Google Career Certificate in Sub-Saharan Africa on Coursera, which will help learners become ready for rewarding professions in the rapidly expanding subject of cybersecurity. By offering a new qualification in this in-demand technology area, this programme affords Africans a chance to improve their employment prospects.
Earning a degree in cybersecurity will provide learners with the knowledge and skills necessary to spot and counteract typical security flaws and attacks. They will also gain experience with technologies like Python, Linux, SQL, and SIEM (Security Information and Event Management).
Together with our distribution partners, ICT Authority in Kenya, The Roothub in Nigeria, and RLabs in South Africa, we will award 2,000 scholarships to help learners afford the Cybersecurity certificate and get the support they need to succeed in their educational endeavours.
This certification is in addition to the current certifications provided in a variety of fields, such as Data Analytics, Digital Marketing & E-commerce, IT Support, Project Management, and User Experience Design. In addition to Google’s fundamental Data Analytics Certificate, it now has released two more advanced credentials in Advanced Data Analytics and Business Intelligence.
Google Career Certificates programme aids 80% participants in Sub-Saharan Africa
Individuals who are interested in furthering their education but lack the time or resources to attend a regular university might benefit from these low-cost programmes that allow them to study online at their own pace. They could be completed in under a year; neither prior experience nor a degree is necessary. The certifications are not specific to any one organisation or industry, and they may be used by anybody to better prepare for a job search.
More than 20,000 individuals in Sub-Saharan Africa have completed the Google Career Certificates programme, with 80% of them reporting a positive career effect within six months after finishing the programme, such as a new job, increased income, or a promotion.
In the last year, we have released Interview Warmup, an AI-powered application that assists job-seekers in preparing for interviews in the technological sectors. We’re ecstatic to show you how the Career Certificates programme has helped Aima, Judith, and Zizipho, three recent college grads from Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.
The organization hopes that this new credential, alongside its current initiatives, will assist Africa’s job seekers in tackling local challenges and gaining access to global possibilities by bridging.