LITTLE ROCK, Ark.- Students studying cyber security at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock are one step closer to applying what they’ve learned in a real-world environment. It’s all thanks to a recent grant from the Arkansas attorney general’s office.
Cameron Jackson is a student at UA Little Rock who is studying cybersecurity. He said what he’s learning now, he’ll soon be able to apply hands-on because of the grant.
The funds will be creating the Cyberspace Operations Research and Education Center, also known as Core.
Professor Sandra Leiterman said the school will use the space for students to learn about real-world examples of cyber protection.
“Whether it be a small business, a municipality or rural health care,” Leiterman said. “We’re really going to be able to build up the cyber security education for them.”
Jackson said this comes at a time when people are at their most vulnerable.
“People put their personal information out there all the time and they don’t understand that there are threat actors who will use that against you,” Jackson said.
The grant aims to develop Arkansas’s future cyber security workforce, but Jackson said it will also create a chance for students to connect with the community.
“It gives all of us the opportunity to teach them what we have learned and it’s a perfect reflection on UA Little Rock and the cyber security program where we’re able to go out into the community,” Jackson said.