George Mason University and Howard University received $1 million from Google’s Cybersecurity Clinic’s Fund to set up a cybersecurity clinic where free digital security services will be offered to under-resourced organizations.
The money from Google.org, the company’s philanthropic arm, went to the National Security Institute’s Cyber and Tech Center at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School and the Howard University School of Business.
The NSI CTC–HUSB Cybersecurity Clinic that will be established will give students from both schools the chance to “learn cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) skills in an effective, hands-on manner while simultaneously helping to protect vulnerable organizations and critical infrastructure, such as local small businesses, hospitals, schools, and nonprofit organizations, from cyber attacks,” a news release from George Mason said.
The cybersecurity clinic will be similar to free community clinics offered at law and medical schools.
“The NSI Cyber and Tech Center at George Mason University and Howard University School of Business are thrilled to receive support from Google to launch a new cybersecurity clinic that will instruct and provide hands-on training to students from both universities on cybersecurity, enabling them to provide critical services to under-resourced organizations across the Washington metropolitan area,” said Jessica Jones, deputy executive director of the National Security Institute, in a statement.
“Both universities have deep ties to cybersecurity and innovation — from expert faculty to students eager to tackling tomorrow’s technology challenges — and the jointly developed NSI CTC–HUSB clinic will be a great step forward to broadening and diversifying the technology education pipeline in the DMV,” she said.
The clinic is one of 15 launching in 2024 because of a collaboration between Google and the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics. Google helped fund 10 clinics last year and supports launching 25 by 2025. It’s committed more than $25 million to the effort.
Feature image by Mikolette Moller/peopleimages.com/stock.adobe.com
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