Doing Before Graduating: Experiential Learning with Part-Time Internships and Grants

Brian Khoa Ngac; Nirup M. Menon

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Conference: 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Portland, Oregon
Publication Date: June 23, 2024
Start Date: June 23, 2024
End Date: July 12, 2024
Conference Session: Cooperative and Experiential Education Division (CEED) Technical Session 3
Tagged Division: Cooperative and Experiential Education Division (CEED)
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/47206

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Paper Authors

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Brian Khoa Ngac George Mason University

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Brian K. Ngac is an Instructional Faculty Member and Dean's Teaching Fellow at George Mason University's School of Business. Moreover, he is a PhD Candidate (ABD) at George Mason University’s College of Engineering & Computing. He holds 12 internationally recognized cyber security and management certifications including the C|CISO, CISSP, ISSMP, CISM, and PMP. His areas of expertise are in cyber security, digital engineering (RDT&E), and business process improvement (solving business challenges with technology solutions). His research focus are in cyber executive management, expert crowdsourcing, and decision analytics. Brian is also the Deputy Vice President for Digital Engineering Programs at Parsons Corporation.

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Nirup M. Menon George Mason University

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Abstract

In a field where many entry level jobs require one or two years of experience to qualify, students are finding it difficult to enter the technology field upon their graduation. This is especially true when they did not work while going to school, or did not participate in an internship prior to their graduation. Our Experiential Learning (EXL) program was created during the Spring 2021 semester, and focuses on two types projects – Business Process Improvement (BPI) and Cyber Security. This effort has been popular with our students and industry participants resulting in 79 students completing the program across 25 projects through 20 different industry participants – some of which sponsor multiple projects. The EXL program has also been recognized by the state of Virginia as an important program for the future of the cyber security workforce, resulting in two Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) Grants which provides the opportunity for student stipends and professional networking events with industry professionals and leaders.

The industry participants are organizations (commercial, government, non-profits, etc.) that work with the academic faculty member to scope the project, challenge the students, and provide mentorship along their EXL journey. The students are undergraduates attending a Virginia higher education institution who desire hands-on experience, challenging work, and a resume-booster to stand out among their peers. All students are informed they should put their EXL project efforts as experience on the resume, which has helped many get jobs prior to their graduation – and some even received job offers directly following the completion of their project by the industry participants themselves.

The BPI projects are run as a course elective through the student’s degree program. BPI projects are focused on having students identify the organization’s business challenges, recommend a technology solution to address that business challenge, and develop an implementation plan for the recommended solution. The Cyber Security projects operate similarly and have an additional benefit – they are funded by the CCI grants resulting in student stipends towards their project work. Moreover, these industry participants are required to pay the students an additional $12/hr. – to show their commitment to the cyber security workforce development.

Beginning Fall 2023, the program has started to focus on making additional impact to the field through setting the goal for each project team to publish their project work in practitioner journals. Already, one project focused in the area of international cyber security cooperation has been accepted in the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) Journal – which not only enhances the student participants’ resumes, but also provides a valuable contribution to the field. Furthermore, the program has been mentioned as a success within the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Press Release, specifically noting a BPI project focused on onboarding of clients to the DoD Cyber Crime Center’s Vulnerability Disclosure Program.

The program is gaining a lot of attention and momentum through its successes (publications, past performances, media mentions, and fundings), and has a lot of potential to scale and receive additional funding for all projects – BPI and Cyber Security.

Citation
Format

Ngac, B. K., & Menon, N. M. (2024, June), Doing Before Graduating: Experiential Learning with Part-Time Internships and Grants Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://peer.asee.org/47206

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - In a field where many entry level jobs require one or two years of experience to qualify, students are finding it difficult to enter the technology field upon their graduation. This is especially true when they did not work while going to school, or did not participate in an internship prior to their graduation. Our Experiential Learning (EXL) program was created during the Spring 2021 semester, and focuses on two types projects – Business Process Improvement (BPI) and Cyber Security. This effort has been popular with our students and industry participants resulting in 79 students completing the program across 25 projects through 20 different industry participants – some of which sponsor multiple projects. The EXL program has also been recognized by the state of Virginia as an important program for the future of the cyber security workforce, resulting in two Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) Grants which provides the opportunity for student stipends and professional networking events with industry professionals and leaders.

The industry participants are organizations (commercial, government, non-profits, etc.) that work with the academic faculty member to scope the project, challenge the students, and provide mentorship along their EXL journey. The students are undergraduates attending a Virginia higher education institution who desire hands-on experience, challenging work, and a resume-booster to stand out among their peers. All students are informed they should put their EXL project efforts as experience on the resume, which has helped many get jobs prior to their graduation – and some even received job offers directly following the completion of their project by the industry participants themselves.

The BPI projects are run as a course elective through the student’s degree program. BPI projects are focused on having students identify the organization’s business challenges, recommend a technology solution to address that business challenge, and develop an implementation plan for the recommended solution. The Cyber Security projects operate similarly and have an additional benefit – they are funded by the CCI grants resulting in student stipends towards their project work. Moreover, these industry participants are required to pay the students an additional $12/hr. – to show their commitment to the cyber security workforce development.

Beginning Fall 2023, the program has started to focus on making additional impact to the field through setting the goal for each project team to publish their project work in practitioner journals. Already, one project focused in the area of international cyber security cooperation has been accepted in the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) Journal – which not only enhances the student participants’ resumes, but also provides a valuable contribution to the field. Furthermore, the program has been mentioned as a success within the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Press Release, specifically noting a BPI project focused on onboarding of clients to the DoD Cyber Crime Center’s Vulnerability Disclosure Program.

The program is gaining a lot of attention and momentum through its successes (publications, past performances, media mentions, and fundings), and has a lot of potential to scale and receive additional funding for all projects – BPI and Cyber Security.
AU  - Brian Khoa Ngac
AU  - Nirup M. Menon
CY  - Portland, Oregon
DA  - 2024/06/23
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Doing Before Graduating: Experiential Learning with Part-Time Internships and Grants
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/47206
ER  -