Cyberforge philadelphia, a regional alliance for cybersecurity education and training, will expand successful community-based partnerships into formal multi-sector workforce partnerships to provide…

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded a $301,818 cooperative agreement to the University City Science Center under the Science, Technology, Business and/or Education Outreach program (CFDA 11.620) effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. CYBERFORGE Philadelphia delivers an employer-led cybersecurity workforce development program serving 64 Philadelphia high school students, with particular focus on those with limited prior exposure to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The program provides hands-on training aligned with NIST's NICE (National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education) framework, professional mentorship, paid internships, and pathways into continuing education and pre-apprenticeship opportunities.

The University City Science Center leads a multistakeholder coalition comprising schools, employers, government agencies, and nonprofits to implement after-school curriculum, professional development intensives, and a cybersecurity advisory council that ensures industry alignment and engagement. Measurable outcomes include curriculum completion rates, mentorship hours delivered, internship participation, student skill development, and increased career awareness and confidence tracked through surveys, alumni tracking, and quarterly advisory reviews. The initiative addresses regional cybersecurity workforce pipeline gaps by expanding industry partnerships and placing program participants into work-based learning experiences or continued education pathways.

Activities

Cyberforge philadelphia will deliver an employer-led, nice-aligned cybersecurity workforce development program for high school students, featuring hands-on training, mentorship, paid internships, continuing education, and pre-apprenticeship opportunities. Ucsc will lead a multistakeholder coalition including schools, employers, government, and nonprofits to implement after-school curriculum, professional development intensives, and a cybersecurity advisory council that drives curriculum alignment and industry engagement.

Expected outcomes

The program aims to strengthen the regional cybersecurity pipeline by expanding industry partnerships, increasing student interest and preparedness for cybersecurity careers, and placing participants into continuing education or work-based learning experiences. Metrics will track curriculum completion, mentorship hours, internship participation, skill development, and student career awareness and confidence, with outcomes evaluated through surveys, alumni tracking, and quarterly advisory reviews.

Intended beneficiaries

The primary beneficiaries are philadelphia high school students especially those with limited prior exposure to stem who will gain access to real-world cybersecurity training, mentorship, and career pathways. Regional employers, educational institutions, and community organizations will benefit from a growing, diverse pool of job-ready talent equipped to meet the regions cybersecurity workforce needs.

Subrecipient activities

There are no planned subawards.