BHEF Receives $100,000 Grant to Develop National Plan for Micro-credentialing and Undergraduate Degree Attainment in Cyber

Groundbreaking national planning to provide comprehensive scope of the cybersecurity learning spectrum: certifications, academic courses, and work experience supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Washington, D.C. (January 7) – The Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF) has been awarded a $100,000 planning grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a business plan that creates a national partnership to deliver industry-recognized cybersecurity credentials to students as they pursue postsecondary degrees. To advance this plan, BHEF will collaborate with its Cybersecurity Undergraduate Pathways (CyberUP) partnership, a diverse coalition from business, postsecondary education, credentialing associations, and on-line education providers.

While the business plan will be applicable across the postsecondary spectrum, BHEF will seek to enhance and strengthen pathways for low-income students who are interested in pursuing credentials or a degree in cybersecurity with the goal to increase the size and diversity of the talent pool. BHEF will leverage its ongoing efforts in cybersecurity, including five regional workforce projects, its National Cybersecurity Network, and the BHEF-University System of Maryland Cybersecurity Network.

BHEF member Jorge Benitez, chief executive of Accenture United States and senior managing director for North America, is providing key leadership. Partners on the project include Aerospace Industries Association, American Council on Education, CompTIA, CyberWatch, Discovery Education, Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Parchment.com, Raytheon Company, Science and Technology Education Innovation Center, University System of Maryland, University of Massachusetts, University of South Florida St. Petersburg, and Viridis Learning.

“Accenture looks forward to being part of this effort to address one of our nation’s essential workforce needs,” Benitez said. “We believe this plan has the potential to make a real difference as we prepare the next generation of leaders.”

The planning process will take into account the full cybersecurity learning experience: certifications, academic courses, and work experience. The business plan will map out how to develop and scale industry-approved standards and will include pilot testing in Massachusetts.

The need for cyber professionals has never been higher: according to a 2013 report from Burning Glass Technologies, since 2008, the demand for cybersecurity professionals has grown more than 3.5 times faster than other openings in IT and about 12 times faster than all other jobs.

Barbara R. Snyder, BHEF chair and president of Case Western Reserve University, said BHEF is proud to partner with the foundation on this promising project.

“The Gates Foundation is a leader in innovative philanthropy and educational models,” Snyder said. “We see myriad opportunities to create exceptional programs based on the interests of students and the needs of employers.”

Brian Fitzgerald, CEO of BHEF, remarked: “We are grateful to the Gates Foundation for their support, and are delighted to lead a distinguished group of partners who seek to create flexible, cybersecurity programs that best bundle a student’s academic background, work experience, and industry-recognized credentials and provide a distinct pathway to a degree and a career. It’s a win-win for everyone.”