Among a selected group of 17 national organizations, IUP was awarded a major grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology RAMPS program to address the shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals.
The project, titled “PA Cyber Workforce Alliance (PCWA): Bridging the Cyber Workforce Gap Through Effective Collaboration and Student Support,” forms a 12-member partnership of educational institutions and industry leaders, led by IUP. Planned activities and events include establishing a robust alliance among partners, identifying skills needed by employers, advancing the use of the NIST NICE framework, and increasing industry-recognized certifications, among many others.
Waleed Farag, director of the IUP Institute for Cyber Security, will serve as principal investigator for PCWA. When asked about the importance of this project, he said, “Our country is in desperate need of a strong and skilled cybersecurity workforce, and I am thrilled that our proposal was chosen for funding. The PCWA partnership will allow us to expand the numerous relationships we’ve worked so hard to cultivate over the past decade and encourage students to consider careers in cybersecurity. I am confident that together, this partnership will have a strong impact on the education and careers of the next generation of cybersecurity experts.”
Greg Paonessa, co-PI of the project and instructor at Penn Highlands Community College, said, “Penn Highlands’ involvement in the RAMPS grant will build upon its previous successes, including a partnership with Indiana University of Pennsylvania to increase the number of students trained in cybersecurity. The new effort represents an employer-driven initiative that strategically integrates regional industry needs with educational development.”
To reach project objectives, PCWA will offer certification-prep workshops and free exam vouchers, paid internships, hackathons, and career fairs, among many others. Learn more by visiting the project website, and contact Waleed Farag at farag@iup.edu with any questions.