Increase participation in the cybersecurity workforce

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded a $300,000 Cooperative Agreement to the Old Dominion University Research Foundation (Odurf) under the Science, Technology, Business and/or Education Outreach federal grant program (CFDA 11.620). The purpose of this 2-year project is to increase participation in the cybersecurity workforce by applying the NICE Framework to develop programs that will help diversify the cybersecurity workforce. The project will coordinate events to train, recruit, and educate participants from underserved populations on cybersecurity pathways through education, internships, and industry partnerships. Expected outcomes include increased awareness, knowledge, and understanding of cybersecurity competencies and career pathways. A $16,000 subaward was provided to the Virginia Peninsula Community College to support these activities.

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to increase participation in the cybersecurity workforce. Under this project, the old dominion university research foundation will apply the nice framework to develop programs that will help diversify the cybersecurity workforce. The project?s primary goal is to collaborate with secondary, higher education, and organizations to educate underserved populations on the cybersecurity pathways through education, internships, and industry.

Activities

The proposed project includes coordination of events to train, recruit, and educate participants to enhance their skills while building a sustainable and diverse cybersecurity workforce. The events and trainings events and training materials will be aligned to the NIST and nice framework. Participants will participate in workshops, courses, and trainings. The project will contain human subjects and evaluated using a mixed methods approach to examine and draw references from the study.

Expected outcomes

Success in this project will result in active engagement of its participants through education and awareness. Participants will have an increased awareness, increased knowledge on the cybersecurity workforce and academic pathways, and increased knowledge of cybersecurity competencies. Participants will understand the competencies needed to acquire roles within the cybersecurity workforce. Further, the project will utilize the nice framework as a central tool for recruitment, training and developing cybersecurity talent.

Intended beneficiaries

Results from the project will be disseminated to the public through conferences, symposiums, and career fairs in virginia and published on social media and publicly on the website. The public will be provided with opportunities to participate in collaborative efforts to increase awareness of the cybersecurity resources through statewide engagement.

Subrecipient activities

Subawards to virginia peninsula community college ($16,000)