Purdue University Northwest’s College of Technology earned a 2024 Academia Circle of Excellence Award.
PNW received the award from the International Council of Electronic Commerce Consults. The award recognizes high-quality teaching that prepares and qualifies students and professionals to enter the cybersecurity workforce.
PNW’s College of Technology has partnered with the EC-Council since 2019. It incorporates two of the council’s accredited certifications, Certified Ethical Hacker and Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator, into program curricula. The certifications qualify students and professionals to understand network protection and digital forensics analysis.
Michael Tu, PNW Center for Cybersecurity director, and Chuck DeCastro, computer information technology lecturer, prepare students for the certification exams.
“PNW is very proud to receive the 2024 Academia Circle of Excellence Award, which is the second time PNW has received the same award in the last two years,” DeCastro said in a press release. “Our partnership with EC-Council in cybersecurity education helps the gap of workforce shortage and enhances the learning experience and credentials of our students.”
EC-Council awards up to five Academic Circle of Excellence awards annually in the North America region. The award honors institutional partners for their cybersecurity education, training and leadership as evidenced by alumni success and program development.
EC-Council is a member-based organization. The council certifies individuals in various e-commerce and information security skills. EC-Council’s Academia partner program works with academic institutions to establish cybersecurity ecosystems. It offers students opportunities to become more competitive as they enter the workforce.
PNW is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education jointly by the National Security Agency and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The designation is awarded to regionally accredited academic institutions offering cybersecurity-related degrees or certificates. PNW has earned the designation since 2014.
