CEDAR CITY — Southern Utah University classes will soon be taught in Vietnam through an international partnership with FPT Corporation, the largest Vietnamese telecommunication company.
The university will make its Master of Science in cybersecurity and information assurance available to students attending FPT University and its online counterpart, Funix University.
FPT Corporation is to southeast Asia what Verizon Communications Inc. is to the United States.
With many smaller entities comprising the company, FPT University has shown a pioneering spirit and a proactive approach to online student education and an increased international presence.
“This partnership extends the reach of SUU and the CSIS Department into Vietnam,” said Dr. Robert Robertson, department chair and associate professor. “It will bring individuals into the program whose perspectives will enhance and benefit fellow students at an international level.”
As the first online educational opportunity offered in Vietnam, FPT University and Southern Utah University are promoting the process of international cooperation in education.
In May, FPT University leaders and dignitaries from Southern Utah University, including President Scott L. Wyatt, signed the agreement to help increase professional training opportunities available to FPT students. At the end of June, university representatives Dr. Rob Robertson, Dr. Roger LaMarca, director of online admissions, and Dr. Stephen Allen traveled to Vietnam to train FPT University on the structure and implementation of the master’s degree program.
An attractive facet of the program is the online component, allowing students to attend school while still living, learning and working in their country.
“Students will receive the same experience and personalized instruction as a traditional SUU classroom while preparing themselves for the rapidly growing field of cybersecurity,” LaMarca said.
Cybersecurity professionals who battle cyberattacks that bleed companies and governments dry are in high demand. It costs an average $11.6 million per cybercrime incident, according to Info Security. Keeping these facts in mind, it’s no surprise that 42 percent of organizations are actively seeking information technology positions in information security, more than any other job, according to a LinkedIn Talent Search.
“They will receive a wide variety of instruction and coursework from this program,” LaMarca said, “including cybersecurity and IT policy; information, vulnerability and threat assessment; physical, personnel and operational security; and contingency, redundancy, emergency and disaster planning.”
Online Vietnamese students will have access to all the resources and materials available to students in a traditional learning environment. Throughout the program, which will begin this fall, these students will have access to a library, tutor and lecturer. They will be educated by leading experts in the cybersecurity industry and will also have opportunities to study alongside American students at Southern Utah University.
FPT Corporation is a multinational information technology company based in Vietnam, branching out to 19 different countries. Smaller entities of the corporation include software outsourcing, telecommunication, property management, education and financial services.
The Vietnam National Technology Research Institute founded the Food Processing Technology Company – the original full name of FPT – in 1988. In 1990 the company switched its core business to information technology and changed the unabbreviated name to Corporation for Financing and Promoting Technology.
The cybersecurity program has been tailored to achieve the highest efficiency and educational quality available online. This new partnership will help further available education in Vietnam and will increase Southern Utah University’s international presence.
With a comprehensive international environment and a wealth of knowledge taught by high profile cybersecurity professionals, including NUIX’s Chris Pogue, Southern Utah University is helping to advance all of its students in this fast-growing career field. The university works hard to make it possible for nontraditional students and working professionals to earn a master’s degree.
Those who are interested in this program can contact Southern Utah University’s online admissions team at 435-865-8665 or [email protected].
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This is a great project and will have valuable benefits for all parties involved. Job well done. !