USF Study: Work‑Based Learning Closes Cybersecurity Gap
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- University of South Florida published a study in the Journal of Cybersecurity and Privacy showing work‑based learning is key to closing the cybersecurity skills gap.
- Oscar A. Aliaga and Noémi Nagy examined work‑based learning across U.S. higher‑education cybersecurity programs and found the most opportunities exist in associate‑degree curricula.
- Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing at USF partners with industry leaders such as Idaho National Laboratory, ConnectSecure, Rapid7, and Timus Networks to provide experiential learning.
- Kurt Friday teaches two experiential‑learning courses—Cybersecurity Tools for Workforce Readiness and Computing Tools for Workforce Readiness—developed with input from industry advisors and job‑market analysis.
- ReliaQuest and USF’s Bellini College run the RealiQuest Labs program, which since 2018 has involved over 300 students in simulated security incidents and often leads to internships or full‑time offers.
- Bonnie Gómez Torres helped map work‑based learning variations and highlighted the need to expand partnerships to create a scalable, inclusive talent pipeline.
Why it matters: Students gain hands‑on experience that aligns with employer demands, while employers benefit from a ready‑made talent pool, and institutions that lag in work‑based learning risk producing graduates lacking practical skills, widening the cybersecurity talent shortfall. The study’s recommendation to expand associate‑degree partnerships could accelerate pipeline scalability and inclusivity, reshaping workforce readiness across the sector.
