Development of a Methodological Framework of Cybersecurity Internship Program for SMEs

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 (...

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 implemented the activities of; ACTIVITY 1: Conducted a Kick-Off meeting in Helsinki where we have planned the entire project’s road map. ACTIVITY 2: *Conducted research activities about how to create a methodological framework of cybersecurity internship program. *Conducted a training in Ankara, Turkey (the host was the Turkish project partner), as a 4 days long training where the participants were trained about how they can create cybersecurity internship components (studied all the necessary components in details). *Employed quality checks, evaluations, modifications and published the first draft of the cybersecurity internship program. ACTIVITY 3: *We have tested/implemented the produced first draft (from activity 2) of the cybersecurity internship program in practice at a big cybersecurity company as a work-based implementation in Ankara, Turkey (as a 5 days activity with hands-on activities, work-based learning scenarios and more) ACTIVITY 4: *We have conducted various multiplier events including workshops in Helsinki, Tallinn and Ankara, dissemination interventions to reach a wide range of people and organisations.

We have reached the concrete output as; *We have produced methodological framework of a cybersecurity internship program, as a 40 page long professional study, which would be used by various SMEs to produce/create their own cybersecurity internship programs by following professional formats, common taxonomy, proper formats, evaluation rubrics, official forms and more. This methodological framework can be also used to create internships in various other areas such as IT areas of AI, Blockchain, Cloud Computing, Network Security or else. Other results that we have reached were; *increased the knowledge and experiences of the targets concerning real-life/work-based experiences via cybersecurity employment scenarios, hands-on and group activities, workshops, disseminations and more, so that they have learnt actual cybersecurity working conditions, work ethics, rules and regulations, policies, how to better collaborate and communicate among adult education providers and SMEs and more. *enhanced adult educators’ knowledge, skills and experiences about how to create high quality learning opportunities for adults.