We wanted to achieve; -Enabling SMEs to achieve a professional methodological framework of a cybersecurity internship program, so that they can create their own cybersecurity internship programs (based on different cybersecurity work areas) to use it in recruiting new cybersecurity interns in their workforces. -increasing the knowledge and experiences of adults with cybersecurity career interests concerning real-life/work-based experiences via cybersecurity employment scenarios, hands-on and group activities, workshops, discussions and more, so that they would learn what awaits for them in actual work environments, working conditions, work ethics, rules and regulations, policies, how to better collaborate and communicate with employers and more. -improving the knowledge, skills and experiences of SMEs staff about what adults with cybersecurity career interests/skills can bring into workforce including fresh perspectives, ideas, business approaches, models, personal skills etc. -enhancing adult educators' knowledge, skills and experiences about how to create high quality learning opportunities for adults.
We applied for this project to help Small and Medium Sized (SMEs) companies in order to acquire the core knowledge and materials of a proper cybersecurity internship program, with all of its components (ex. objectives, job description, orientation process, performance appraisal, timeline, learning interventions, activities, evaluation rubrics and so on). So that, we planned to support SMEs in creating properly developed internship programs in cybersecurity field (applicable to various other IT areas) with a common taxonomy, methodologies, structure and up-to-date relevant content. The needs we have addressed; -the lack of knowledge of SMEs about what a proper cybersecurity internship program should include, -how SMEs can recruit new cybersecurity interns in professional internship formats to train the new cybersecurity workforce, with the aim of lessening the critical needs of cybersecurity vacancies in the market (up to 2 million in the EU). -how to create bridges between adult education sector and business market needs, align adult education services with the up-to-date, innovative and fast-paced changes of the cybersecurity field (market needs).