Build Partnerships
BHEF's Strategic Business Engagement Model moves business and higher education from transactional relationships to strategic partnerships to meet workforce needs.
The Business-Higher Education Forum
The University System of Maryland Teams with Regional Employers to Create Innovative Pathways to Jobs
This case study examines how BHEF member, the University System of Maryland (USM), collaborated with businesses and government agencies to develop cybersecurity pathways on multiple campuses to build a diverse regional cybersecurity talent ecosystem that can address national security needs. It also provides recommendations for stakeholders in government, business, and higher education on developing an ecosystem for cybersecurity skills needs—or one that can serve as a model for other fields.
This case study builds upon BHEF’s work to create new undergraduate pathways in high-skill, high-demand fields. As part of HEWI, BHEF received a $400,000 grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in 2012 to work with USM and the Northrop Grumman Corporation on the development of undergraduate pathways in cybersecurity. In partnership with BHEF, USM pursued a coordinated, system-level effort to create new cybersecurity pathways that would attract diverse students, engage them in cutting-edge learning experiences, and encourage them to build their careers in the region.
BHEF's Strategic Business Engagement Model moves business and higher education from transactional relationships to strategic partnerships to meet workforce needs.
BHEF focuses on evidenced-based practices and uses a rigorous methodology to strengthen our members' efforts to develop highly skilled, engaged professionals.
Trend analysis informs our methodology to assess and map skills needs, align higher education with workforce, and position our members' organizations for success.