UHMC to Receive Nearly $300K to Develop Cybersecurity Workforce Program

The University of Hawaiʻi Maui College will receive $299,404 from the National Science Foundation to develop a cybersecurity education and workforce development program.

Hirono met with Maui High School students in the robotics, digital media, and automotive programs at Maui High School.

Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaiʻi) made the announcement today saying, “Today’s complex cyber threats require an educated workforce trained in preventing, detecting, and investigating potential attacks, system breaches, and other cyber threats. Today’s funding will help ensure that Hawaiʻi has the workforce it needs to meet 21st century security challenges and take advantage of global economic opportunities.”

As part of the program, UHMC will recruit undergraduate students from the UH community college system and other Hawaiʻi institutions to build student exposure to and skillsets in cybersecurity.

The program will also help prepare students for careers in information technology and cybersecurity as well as increase the number of students who enroll in cybersecurity classes and graduate with a certificate or degree in cybersecurity at UHMC.

“The National Science Foundation and the Advanced Technological Education program has been instrumental in advancing cybersecurity education and workforce readiness in Hawaiʻi,” said Dr. Debasis Bhattacharya, faculty at UHMC. “With this new NSF ATE grant, the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College is able to prepare a new generation of Hawaiʻi students to study cybersecurity and be prepared for new and exciting careers.”

Sen. Hirono has been an advocate for federal funding to support programs that promote a strong science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) pipeline, and earlier this year reintroduced her plan to improve diversity and competitiveness, and broaden participation among women and underrepresented minorities, in the STEM fields.