Caltech is preparing to launch a cybersecurity workforce development initiative aimed at cultivating a talent pipeline of highly skilled students who will lead to careers in the public service and defense sectors.
The program, dubbed “Cleared for Success,” is hosted by Cal Poly's California Cybersecurity Institute and introduces basic security concepts to students in the university's College of Computing and College of Engineering. Students are also expected to have access to internships, practicums, and networking opportunities to jumpstart their future careers.
“This program provides students with the opportunity to work with industry leaders on real-world projects,” said Bill Britton, Cal Poly's vice president and chief information officer for information technology and director of Cal Poly. , provides unprecedented hands-on learning opportunities,” the California Cybersecurity Institute said in a press release. “Cybersecurity has become the front line of national defense, and cyber threats are rapidly evolving to incorporate new trends such as generative AI.”
Nationwide, the cybersecurity sector is growing faster than the workforce, according to an analysis by Drata, a security and compliance automation software company.
“This partnership represents a unique opportunity for the university and a watershed moment for experiential learning,” Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong said in a release. “The cutting-edge work our students undertake has the potential to redefine the landscape and attract new investments that accelerate the pace of innovation at the state and national level.”
Cal Poly leaders said they hope to one day expand the program to support workforces in other industries, including aerospace engineering, public health and energy.
The Cleared for Success program has received $1 million in philanthropic funding to date, according to the release.
