{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7131359370","doi":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jcp6020040","title":"Strengthening Workforce Readiness: Evidence on Work-Based Learning in U.S. Higher Education Cybersecurity Programs","display_name":"Strengthening Workforce Readiness: Evidence on Work-Based Learning in U.S. Higher Education Cybersecurity Programs","publication_year":2026,"publication_date":"2026-02-25","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W7131359370","doi":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jcp6020040"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.3390/jcp6020040","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jcp6020040","pdf_url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2624-800X/6/2/40/pdf?version=1772073738","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4210232532","display_name":"Journal of Cybersecurity and Privacy","issn_l":"2624-800X","issn":["2624-800X"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310310987","host_organization_name":"Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310310987"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Journal of Cybersecurity and Privacy","raw_type":"journal-article"},"type":"article","indexed_in":["crossref","doaj"],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"gold","oa_url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2624-800X/6/2/40/pdf?version=1772073738","any_repository_has_fulltext":true},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5070466405","display_name":"Oscar A. Aliaga","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1297-0310"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I2613432","display_name":"University of South Florida","ror":"https://ror.org/032db5x82","country_code":"US","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I2613432"]}],"countries":["US"],"is_corresponding":true,"raw_author_name":"Oscar A. Aliaga","raw_affiliation_strings":["College of Education, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620, USA"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1297-0310","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"College of Education, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I2613432"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5126751523","display_name":"No\u00e9mi Nagy","orcid":null},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I2613432","display_name":"University of South Florida","ror":"https://ror.org/032db5x82","country_code":"US","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I2613432"]}],"countries":["US"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"No\u00e9mi Nagy","raw_affiliation_strings":["College of Education, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620, USA"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0077-3751","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"College of Education, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I2613432"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5025082952","display_name":"Bonnie G\u00f3mez Torres","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7841-5778"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I2613432","display_name":"University of South Florida","ror":"https://ror.org/032db5x82","country_code":"US","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I2613432"]}],"countries":["US"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Bonnie G\u00f3mez Torres","raw_affiliation_strings":["College of Education, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620, USA"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7841-5778","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"College of Education, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I2613432"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5126749763","display_name":"Ajara Mahmoud","orcid":null},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I2613432","display_name":"University of South Florida","ror":"https://ror.org/032db5x82","country_code":"US","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I2613432"]}],"countries":["US"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Ajara Mahmoud","raw_affiliation_strings":["College of Education, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620, USA"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5616-9151","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"College of Education, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I2613432"]}]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5093638315","display_name":"Courtney N. Callahan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1878-6187"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I2613432","display_name":"University of South Florida","ror":"https://ror.org/032db5x82","country_code":"US","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I2613432"]}],"countries":["US"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Courtney N. Callahan","raw_affiliation_strings":["College of Education, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620, USA"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1878-6187","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"College of Education, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620, USA","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I2613432"]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":1,"institutions_distinct_count":5,"corresponding_author_ids":["https://openalex.org/A5070466405"],"corresponding_institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I2613432"],"apc_list":{"value":1000,"currency":"CHF","value_usd":1082},"apc_paid":{"value":1000,"currency":"CHF","value_usd":1082},"fwci":0.0,"has_fulltext":true,"cited_by_count":0,"citation_normalized_percentile":{"value":0.26806977,"is_in_top_1_percent":false,"is_in_top_10_percent":false},"cited_by_percentile_year":null,"biblio":{"volume":"6","issue":"2","first_page":"40","last_page":"40"},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T13034","display_name":"Information Systems Education and Curriculum Development","score":0.36820000410079956,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1710","display_name":"Information Systems"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T13034","display_name":"Information Systems Education and Curriculum Development","score":0.36820000410079956,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1710","display_name":"Information Systems"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11779","display_name":"Higher Education and Employability","score":0.1664000004529953,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3304","display_name":"Education"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/33","display_name":"Social Sciences"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10734","display_name":"Information and Cyber Security","score":0.048900000751018524,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1710","display_name":"Information Systems"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/higher-education","display_name":"Higher education","score":0.6901000142097473},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/credential","display_name":"Credential","score":0.6651999950408936},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/workforce","display_name":"Workforce","score":0.5716000199317932},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/curriculum","display_name":"Curriculum","score":0.566100001335144},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/workforce-development","display_name":"Workforce development","score":0.4880000054836273},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/descriptive-statistics","display_name":"Descriptive statistics","score":0.35019999742507935}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C120912362","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q136822","display_name":"Higher education","level":2,"score":0.6901000142097473},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2777810591","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16861606","display_name":"Credential","level":2,"score":0.6651999950408936},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778139618","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13440398","display_name":"Workforce","level":2,"score":0.5716000199317932},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C47177190","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207137","display_name":"Curriculum","level":2,"score":0.566100001335144},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779968149","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8034851","display_name":"Workforce development","level":3,"score":0.4880000054836273},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C144133560","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4830453","display_name":"Business","level":0,"score":0.4490000009536743},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C39549134","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133080","display_name":"Public relations","level":1,"score":0.43470001220703125},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C17744445","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q36442","display_name":"Political science","level":0,"score":0.3817000091075897},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C509550671","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q126945","display_name":"Medical education","level":1,"score":0.3547999858856201},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C39896193","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q380344","display_name":"Descriptive statistics","level":2,"score":0.35019999742507935},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2776509339","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4671161","display_name":"Academic advising","level":3,"score":0.3361000120639801},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C51067260","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q828812","display_name":"Professional development","level":2,"score":0.29339998960494995},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C162127614","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5928045","display_name":"Ambivalence","level":2,"score":0.29269999265670776},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C121955636","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4116214","display_name":"Accounting","level":1,"score":0.2924000024795532},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778728124","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7627822","display_name":"Student debt","level":3,"score":0.27709999680519104},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778137410","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2732820","display_name":"Government (linguistics)","level":2,"score":0.27390000224113464},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C56739046","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q192060","display_name":"Knowledge management","level":1,"score":0.2732999920845032},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C134215751","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q829080","display_name":"Professional association","level":2,"score":0.27079999446868896},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C144024400","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21201","display_name":"Sociology","level":0,"score":0.262800008058548},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C41008148","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198","display_name":"Computer science","level":0,"score":0.25209999084472656}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":2,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.3390/jcp6020040","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jcp6020040","pdf_url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2624-800X/6/2/40/pdf?version=1772073738","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4210232532","display_name":"Journal of Cybersecurity and Privacy","issn_l":"2624-800X","issn":["2624-800X"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310310987","host_organization_name":"Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310310987"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Journal of Cybersecurity and Privacy","raw_type":"journal-article"},{"id":"pmh:oai:doaj.org/article:7d19123b620846deaedeb74aef20806b","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doaj.org/article/7d19123b620846deaedeb74aef20806b","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306401280","display_name":"DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":null,"host_organization_name":null,"host_organization_lineage":[],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by-sa","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by-sa","version":"submittedVersion","is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":"Journal of Cybersecurity and Privacy, Vol 6, Iss 2, p 40 (2026)","raw_type":"article"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"doi:10.3390/jcp6020040","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jcp6020040","pdf_url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2624-800X/6/2/40/pdf?version=1772073738","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4210232532","display_name":"Journal of Cybersecurity and Privacy","issn_l":"2624-800X","issn":["2624-800X"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310310987","host_organization_name":"Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310310987"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Journal of Cybersecurity and Privacy","raw_type":"journal-article"},"sustainable_development_goals":[{"display_name":"Partnerships for the goals","score":0.5308045744895935,"id":"https://metadata.un.org/sdg/17"}],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"pdf":true,"grobid_xml":true},"content_urls":{"pdf":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W7131359370.pdf","grobid_xml":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W7131359370.grobid-xml"},"referenced_works_count":36,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W79315348","https://openalex.org/W968836966","https://openalex.org/W1965389562","https://openalex.org/W1965520212","https://openalex.org/W2034868451","https://openalex.org/W2060090879","https://openalex.org/W2074323550","https://openalex.org/W2094408166","https://openalex.org/W2110001018","https://openalex.org/W2130263878","https://openalex.org/W2159620621","https://openalex.org/W2793402936","https://openalex.org/W3002720970","https://openalex.org/W3122314332","https://openalex.org/W3180515764","https://openalex.org/W3199717467","https://openalex.org/W3216968919","https://openalex.org/W4210286768","https://openalex.org/W4212797024","https://openalex.org/W4214914715","https://openalex.org/W4235663682","https://openalex.org/W4236074548","https://openalex.org/W4296839627","https://openalex.org/W4320923605","https://openalex.org/W4323045077","https://openalex.org/W4376623567","https://openalex.org/W4378531968","https://openalex.org/W4385540252","https://openalex.org/W4388119702","https://openalex.org/W4391932013","https://openalex.org/W4392564553","https://openalex.org/W4394837127","https://openalex.org/W4403360640","https://openalex.org/W4416229205","https://openalex.org/W4417121676","https://openalex.org/W7124247487"],"related_works":[],"abstract_inverted_index":{"This":[0],"study":[1],"provides":[2],"a":[3,114,184,277],"foundational":[4],"review":[5],"of":[6,31,76,88,101,143,150,163,180,187,217,225,282],"work-based":[7],"learning":[8,284],"(WBL)":[9],"opportunities":[10,152,219],"offered":[11],"by":[12],"colleges":[13],"and":[14,38,57,67,78,107,136,148,166,176,198,209,221,259,275],"universities":[15],"to":[16,53,92,140,154,159,235,271],"students":[17],"in":[18,24,241,285],"higher":[19,105,123],"education":[20,106,124],"cybersecurity":[21,286],"(CS)":[22],"programs":[23,80],"the":[25,29,33,62,74,86,102,131,146,160,215,222],"United":[26],"States,":[27],"with":[28,170,190],"goal":[30],"mapping":[32],"WBL":[34,42,89,151,164,171,188,218,253,265],"practices":[35],"across":[36,173,193],"institutional":[37,156,207],"program":[39,167,210],"contexts.":[40],"Integrating":[41],"into":[43],"CS":[44,79,127],"curricula":[45],"is":[46],"widely":[47],"recognized":[48],"as":[49],"an":[50,232],"effective":[51],"way":[52],"strengthen":[54],"essential":[55],"skills":[56],"address":[58],"employer":[59,261],"concerns":[60],"about":[61],"gap":[63],"between":[64,104,145],"academic":[65],"preparation":[66],"labor":[68],"market":[69],"needs.":[70],"We":[71,129],"first":[72],"outline":[73],"characteristics":[75,100,157,208],"institutions":[77,125],"offering":[81,126],"WBL.":[82,205,227],"Next,":[83],"we":[84,98,118,250],"examine":[85],"range":[87],"experiences":[90],"designed":[91],"enhance":[93],"students\u2019":[94],"professional":[95],"competencies.":[96],"Finally,":[97],"explore":[99,141],"partnerships":[103],"industry":[108],"that":[109],"support":[110],"these":[111,248],"initiatives.":[112],"Using":[113],"status":[115],"survey":[116],"approach,":[117],"collected":[119],"responses":[120],"from":[121],"92":[122],"programs.":[128],"analyzed":[130],"data":[132],"using":[133],"descriptive":[134],"statistics":[135],"linear":[137],"regression":[138],"models":[139],"patterns":[142],"association":[144],"type":[147],"number":[149,162,216],"available":[153],"students,":[155],"related":[158],"total":[161],"offerings,":[165],"features":[168,211],"associated":[169],"intensity":[172,223],"Awareness,":[174],"Exploration,":[175],"Direct":[177],"Experience":[178],"levels":[179,224],"intensity.":[181],"Findings":[182],"reveal":[183],"diverse":[185],"array":[186],"opportunities,":[189],"notable":[191],"growth":[192],"credential":[194],"levels.":[195],"Notably,":[196],"certificates":[197],"associate":[199],"degrees":[200],"place":[201],"particular":[202],"emphasis":[203],"on":[204,247],"Both":[206],"explain,":[212],"albeit":[213],"partially,":[214],"implemented":[220],"those":[226],"However,":[228],"results":[229],"also":[230],"indicate":[231],"ambivalent":[233],"connection":[234],"employers,":[236],"despite":[237],"their":[238],"critical":[239],"role":[240],"providing":[242],"hands-on,":[243],"problem-solving":[244],"experiences.":[245],"Based":[246],"insights,":[249],"recommend":[251],"expanding":[252],"beyond":[254],"internships,":[255],"strengthening":[256],"institutional\u2013industry":[257],"partnerships,":[258],"fostering":[260],"engagement":[262],"through":[263],"structured":[264],"collaboration":[266],"models.":[267],"These":[268],"strategies":[269],"aim":[270],"improve":[272],"workforce":[273],"readiness":[274],"create":[276],"more":[278],"inclusive,":[279],"scalable":[280],"system":[281],"experiential":[283],"education.":[287]},"counts_by_year":[],"updated_date":"2026-05-06T08:25:59.206177","created_date":"2026-02-25T00:00:00"}
