Cooperative agreement for the cybersecurity consortium of southwestern ohio (with the strategic ohio council for higher education):purpose: the goal of the multi-stakeholder cybersecurity consortium…

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded a $300,017 Cooperative Agreement under the Science, Technology, Business and/or Education Outreach program (CFDA 11.620) to the Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE), doing business as The Dayton-Miami Valley Consortium, for the Cybersecurity Consortium of Southwestern Ohio (CCSO) project. The 24-month project aims to establish a regional cybersecurity education, research, and training corridor between Cincinnati and Dayton, involving collaboration with K-12 institutions, higher education, and community organizations. The project will apply the NICE Framework to gain a deeper understanding of local cybersecurity workforce needs and develop curricula, degree program evaluations, and student internship and job placement opportunities to address the cybersecurity skills gap and diversify the talent pool in Ohio and the Midwest.

Activities

The proposed project activities highlight involvement from K12 institutions, higher education institutions, and community organizations. Over a 24-month period, ccso will collaborate with these entities to increase educational opportunities for cybersecurity, build a cybersecurity curriculum, evaluate degree programs, and identify employers to provide internships and job placement for students. Through multiple phases of the project, ccso will conduct qualitative and quantitative research for the project and disseminate the results and findings by hosting informational sessions, keynotes, publications, and attending national and state conferences.

Expected outcomes

Success in this project will result in a deeper understanding of the skills, tasks, and competencies needed for cybersecurity workforce development. The expected outcomes are career exploration in the field of cybersecurity, transformative learning to diversify and sustain a skilled workforce, addressing the skills GAP, and driving research on effective practices for cybersecurity workforce development. An additional outcome is to seek the involvement of a diverse population in cybersecurity careers across ohio and the midwest.

Intended beneficiaries

The applicant will employ the nice framework for trainings and other resources regarding cybersecurity workforce development and education. The framework will be employed throughout the project to ensure the framework is being implemented within the developed curriculums and training programs. Students and the public will have the opportunity to participate in career readiness activities, regional competitions, and cybersecurity activities that focus on skill development and career exploration.

Subrecipient activities

There are no planned subawards.