Scalable Program for Experiential Learning in CCI
Building on seven semester-long cohorts of CCI Experiential Learning Programs, the proposal will set up internships that offer George Mason University’s micro-credential certification to students from Mason and the University of Mary Washington, which can be added to LinkedIn profiles as a certified qualification of tech entrepreneurship.
Funded by the CCI Hub
Project Investigator
Principal Investigator (PI): Gisele Stolz, Senior Director, George Mason University Entrepreneurship Programs
Rationale and Background
Experiential learning is key to preparing students for the cybersecurity workforce. However, the technical and soft skills that tech companies seek are becoming more difficult to acquire through traditional college programs and internships.
Finding quality internship opportunities can also be a problem for undergraduate students. There are limited opportunities to support the growing cybersecurity student population, and they can require security clearances, which most students don’t have.
In addition, startups and small businesses are an important, dynamic and growing part of the Virginia cybersecurity ecosystem, yet they must compete with large corporations or government entities in the region to recruit top talent.
Methodology
The program will match students from Mason and Mary Washington, including transfers from regional community colleges, with local cybersecurity startups and subject matter experts. Interns will supplement this experience with a tech-focused entrepreneurship curriculum.
The semester-long program will be offered twice a year, in the Spring and Fall, aiming to place 50 students per year.
Researchers will advertise the opportunity through relevant cybersecurity, computer science information technology, and other departments within the universities as well as with career services. Interested candidates can apply through Handshake.
Based on the requirements of the companies, researchers will either match subsets of students to specific hosts, or send companies the entire batch of pre-selected students. Startup companies then interview their chosen candidates and pick their interns based on their needs and company fit.
Interns are paid $19 an hour. Students work up to a maximum of 120 hours and are expected to complete projects defined by the host startup.
Projected outcomes
The project aims to achieve three objectives:
- Provide students in cybersecurity degree programs with relevant, hands-on experiential learning opportunities while giving them training and guidance.
- Offer cybersecurity startups and SMEs the talent they need to scale their businesses.
- Introduce students from a diverse background to tech entrepreneurship, inspiring them to launch their own startups some day.