University of Phoenix recognized with 2023 Academia Circle of Excellence Award by EC-Council, world’s largest cybersecurity certification body

University is recipient for fifth consecutive year of award that highlights academic institutions and faculty with lasting impact on students’ cybersecurity education and communities 

University of Phoenix is proud to share it is a recipient of the EC-Council 2023 Academia Circle of Excellence Award for the fifth consecutive year. The EC-Council Academia division awards formally highlight academic institutions and faculty within North America and across the world that excel each year with lasting impacts on their students' cybersecurity education and local communities. 

As cybercrime continues to be a concern across industries, cybersecurity skills and education are increasingly critical to producing work-ready graduates that remain in-demand in the job market and throughout emerging technology roles. 

University of Phoenix College of Business and Information Technology builds degree programs and certificates which make critical connections and build student understanding of the ways technology and business evolve together, particularly in the arena of cybersecurity. The College offers programs aligned to select industry-leading EC-Council certification exams as well as EC-Council aligned courses which can be taken individually to focus on specific skills.

“We are incredibly proud to receive the EC-Council Academia Circle of Excellence Award for the fifth year in a row,” states Kathryn Uhles, dean, College of Business and Information Technology at the University. “It is our students, working adult learners in the field of cybersecurity, who fuel our pursuit of excellence and drive us to continually innovate and find ways to help address skills gaps in the industry. We are grateful for this recognition, which affirms the work that we are doing to create a lasting impact on our students and their communities.”

The University works with labor market researchers and expert faculty in their fields, to identify, tag, and map employer sought-after skills in curriculum. Currently, 100% of programs open for new enrollment within the College of Business and Information Technology are skills mapped. 

“We are extremely proud to award University of Phoenix the Circle of Excellence awards based on their commitment to Cybersecurity education at large. Their programs continue to prepare workforce ready professionals with today’s emerging technologies and tactical Cybersecurity skills in a flexible model for students and working professionals alike,” said Wesley Alvarez, Director of Academics at EC-Council. “We are pleased to honor them for the fifth consecutive year with this award, representing elite Cybersecurity programs dedicated to skills-based competencies and fostering student success.” 

University of Phoenix established an alliance with EC-Council seven years ago in order to help expand opportunities for working adult students. The award recognizes the University’s commitment to making a positive impact in the cybersecurity workforce. The 2023 Academia Circle of Excellence Award is a prestigious honor within the EC-Council and cybersecurity communities; EC-Council has over 1,000 academic partners from K-12, Technical Institutes, Colleges and Universities in North America, each with many faculty and Certified EC-Council Instructors (CEIs). 

EC-Council organizes annual partner awards to highlight the highest levels of Cybersecurity education, training, executive leadership, and instruction within global communities. This consists of partnered academic institutions, commercial training centers, corporate organizations, CISO's, CEIs, and academic faculty. The Academia Circle of Excellence award recipients are selected based on criteria including the following:  

• Commitment to educate and make a difference in the Cybersecurity workforce 

• Student feedback on EC-Council courses and faculty 

• Evaluation reports post class 

• Student and Alumni Engagement 

• Ratio of students who move on to attempt EC-Council certifications 

• Volume of students educated in Cybersecurity 

• Continuous program development.

The University’s College of Business and Information Technology offers students access to faculty that possess an average of 32.8 years of professional experience. Current faculty includes 399 directors, 188 presidents, 73 Information Technology/System Administrators and 51 chief executive officers. 

Learn more here about University of Phoenix College of Business and Information Technology cybersecurity programs.

About EC-Council

EC-Council’s sole purpose is to build and refine the cybersecurity profession globally. The company helps organizations, educators, and governments, as well as individuals, to address global workforce problems by developing and curating world-class cybersecurity education programs and certifications while also providing cybersecurity services to some of the largest businesses around the world. Trusted by seven of the Fortune 10, 47 of the Fortune 100, the Department of Defense, the global intelligence community, NATO, and more than 2,000 of the best universities, colleges, and training companies, EC-Council programs have made their way to 140 countries and have set the bar in cybersecurity education. Learn more at www.eccouncil.org.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.