Fortinet partners with Sripatum University to bridge Thailand’s Cybersecurity skills gap

Fortinet, a global leader in broad, integrated, and automated cybersecurity solutions, announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sripatum University (SPU) to provide its students with Fortinet’s industry-recognized cybersecurity training and certifications. This partnership will provide SPU’s students with cybersecurity courses from Fortinet’s award-winning curriculum to prepare them with the in-demand skills necessary to secure and manage Thailand’s digital infrastructure, helping to close the skills gap.

With this agreement, SPU becomes the latest educational institution to join Fortinet Training Institute’s Academic Partner Program, which works with academic institutions and schools worldwide to bridge the cybersecurity skills gap. As an Authorized Academic Partner, SPU will offer Fortinet’s award-winning Network Security Expert (NSE) training and certification courses at the International College and School of Information Technology. Around 150 students are expected to benefit from this program during the first academic year of the partnership. They will enter the program at NSE Level 4 with opportunities to explore additional training pathways per their career aspirations.

Certified instructors will conduct the training and certification program, a combination of self-paced and instructor-led courses through classroom and laboratory sessions, including practical and experiential exercises. The robust curriculum will produce highly qualified graduates with cybersecurity skills to help protect networks from global cyber threats and strengthen the national digital security landscape.

Ms. Pakthapa Chatkomes, Fortinet’s Country Manager for Thailand, said: “According to the Fortinet 2022 Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report; 91% of leaders in Thailand struggle to retain cybersecurity talent; and about 87% of them find it challenging to fill cybersecurity roles, especially in cloud security and security operations. The Fortinet Training Institute helps bridge this gap by increasing access to training, and the partnership with SPU is a significant step in this endeavour. This will expand learning and career opportunities for anyone interested in cybersecurity and also help Thailand secure its digital infrastructure.”

Dr. Ratchaneeporn Pookayaporn Pukkamarn, President of Sripatum University, said: “SPU is a leading university for the new generation in Thailand. We are committing to providing the latest real-world technology knowledge that modern businesses require. The collaboration with the global leader in network security introduces next-level cybersecurity training to our students in creating highly skilled IT professionals and increasing lifetime job opportunities. Using Fortinet’s award-winning NSE technical training in the classrooms, our students obtain valuable industry certifications to add to their resumes upon graduation. Moreover, we are proud to reinforce our commitment to securing the future of Thailand’s digital transformation.”

This academic partner establishment with Sripatum University builds on Fortinet’s existing efforts to address the cyber skills gap through training and education by Fortinet’s Training Institute and the Academic Partner Program. With more than 500 Authorized Academic Partners around the world across more than 96 countries and territories, the Fortinet Training Institute continues to work with education institutions globally to help prepare the cyber workforce of the future. Additionally, Fortinet has issued more than 1 million NSE certifications to help close the cybersecurity skills gap globally. Adding to this milestone, Fortinet continues to expand the global impact of its training and certification programs with the addition of new courses in priority cybersecurity areas, new training partners, and by expanding access to cyber training and education to empower untapped talent.

Source: Communication Arts