The BHEF National Higher Education and Workforce Initiative

Abstract

BHEF has achieved particular success in operationalizing its National Higher Education and Workforce Initiative (HEWI) in Maryland focusing on cybersecurity. Leveraging its membership of corporate CEOs, university presidents and government agency leaders, BHEF partnered with the University System of Maryland to build a system-wide response to the state's (and nation's) cybersecurity workforce challenges. BHEF's work in Maryland illustrates that it is indeed possible to effect swift, significant change and innovation in higher education with the goal of better aligning curricula and student outcomes with high-skill workforce needs. This pace of change hinges on the genuine commitment, expertise and investment of resources by motivated stakeholders. This case study describes how the Maryland regional initiative, as part of HEWI, operationalizes BHEF strategies. It also describes how the effort is expanding geographically to involve more partners in industry, government and higher education.