Written with the help of AI from a news release from Wright State University.
Wright State University has been awarded a cooperative agreement of nearly $200,000 from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology, the university said. The money will be used to develop a program that prepares students for cybersecurity careers in advanced manufacturing.
Under the agreement, Wright State will lead an initiative through the Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development, known as RAMPS. The university said it will work with local employers to match education and training to industry needs and address a shortage of cybersecurity professionals.
The initiative is called SecureAM Pathways. According to the university, cybersecurity tasks and skills gaps will be identified through interviews, surveys and advisory discussions. Those findings will inform updates to lessons, labs and assessments aligned with the NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity.
Junjie Zhang, the program director of cybersecurity, said the university will "develop employer-informed learning materials and integrate them into existing courses," so cybersecurity students learn about manufacturing systems and engineering students gain cybersecurity skills.
Wright State said it will work with SOCHE and local partners including the Dayton Region Manufacturers Association, Dayton Development Coalition and Yaskawa Motoman. The program will include workshops, seminars and hands-on training, and will help identify employer-supported internships, co-ops and project-based learning. The university also plans outreach to schools, educators and regional partners.
Wright State has 217 students enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, combined-degree or pre-degree cybersecurity programs in its College of Engineering and Computer Science. The university said it is one of nine institutions selected for a cooperative agreement this year and the third university in Ohio named a RAMPS community. With this year’s additions, there are 55 RAMPS communities across 26 states.
Read the full release from Wright State University.
