An Interdisciplinary Approach to Experiential Learning in Cyberbiosecurity and Agriculture Through Workforce Development

Authors

Kellie Johnson, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityFollow
Tiffany Drape, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityFollow
Joseph Oakes, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityFollow
Joseph Simpson, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityFollow
Ann Brown, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityFollow
Donna M. Westfall-Rudd, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityFollow
Susan Duncan, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityFollow

Publication Date

October 2023

Abstract

Cyberbiosecurity and workforce development in agriculture and the life sciences (ALS) is a growing area of need in the curriculum in higher education. Students that pursue majors related to ALS often do not include training in cyber-related concepts or expose the ‘hidden curriculum’ of seeking internships and jobs. Exposing students through workforce development training and hands-on engagement with industry professionals can provide learning opportunities to bridge the two and is an area of growth and demand as the workforce evolves. The objectives of this work were 1) to learn key concepts in cybersecurity, including data security, visualization, and analysis, to name a few, through class activities and engagement with professional partners and 2) to understand what knowledge students gained from participating in the course could transfer over for when they enter the workforce. Three themes emerged from the study where students, through direct engagement with industry partners, gained more insight about the industry applicable to their studies; they established work environment expectations for entering internships and official job placements and established ways in which the workforce development training informed their future careers.