Devin Hagerty’s Post

I love when my current and former industries collide! The demographic cliff refers to the moment when the number of traditional college-aged students will peak before sharply declining. While higher education professionals have been talking about this impending catalyst for years, its effects will touch every industry. National security work is no exception, and with the pool of cleared candidates already small it's imperative we help educate and inform the next generation. #nationalsecurity #clearancejobs #securityclearance #demographiccliff #nextgeneration #genz #genalpha

As the demographic cliff looms on the horizon, the future of the cleared industry hinges on the next generation and what career path they choose. While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to breaking into the national security industry, attending a college or university with relevant coursework and connections is a smart step toward a classified career. Here are five great college options for national security hopefuls to consider. #clearancejobs #nationalsecurity

Do you need a degree to get into IT? The answer is no, but nothing is free. I personally don't have an IT background and that's not something that makes me feel bad about my career. I acquired my technical knowledge at a highly qualified federal technical school in Brazil around 2000. According to this shared video, the US government states that the IT hiring process must occur according to a skills-based selection, regardless of how people obtain this technical proficiency. This is a way to have IT staff for some open IT positions, such as cybersecurity or programming. The best approach is to obtain professional and good quality certifications to stand out among professionals, strengthening the IT job market again. This is happening all over the world, in countries like Germany and Austria, where the lack of good IT professionals is even impacting future strategies based on disruptive technologies. Take advantage of a good IT training opportunity and be prepared for many job offers ahead. https://lnkd.in/dya_suRe

This idea is a theme that I've heard from experienced security professionals since I was 18 years old: They always recommended seeking different educational paths than whatever is the standard because orgs/leaders in the future would place more value on unique, less traditional skills -- they already have a team of people with experience in similar security disciplines. Those standard paths tend to be (sorry): criminal justice (or one of the many flavors of CJ), terrorism studies, political science, homeland security, etc. And I say that as a poli sci undergrad, with great humility. You will stand out professionally among your peers if you pursue diverse professional / educational projects, rather than being cut from the same mold as others following the standard approach. --- Want to read the full series? Follow my link in the comments below.

Opportunity

Certainly, the practice of universities or institutions claiming affiliation or granting degrees to individuals without their knowledge or participation in the academic program is often considered a form of academic fraud. This can happen when someone's name or credentials are misused without their consent, particularly in cases where a person's PhD degree is utilized without them being hired or genuinely involved in the educational process. This type of scam undermines the integrity of academic qualifications and misrepresents the individual's expertise or educational attainment. It can harm the reputation of both the person whose credentials are being exploited and the educational institution responsible for the fraudulent practices. Such actions can have legal consequences and can severely damage the trust and credibility within the academic community. Efforts to prevent these scams often involve stricter verification procedures by educational institutions, legal actions against fraudulent entities, and the protection of individuals' academic credentials and personal information. #scamawareness

Arizona State University is still at it. They’re asking job applicants about their commitment to DEI — despite the Board of Regents’ decision that the state can no longer require diversity statements. (h/t College Fix) The blatant, willful violation of the Board of Regents’ directive further corrodes the academic integrity of the university system. It appears that administrators have simply scrubbed the formal diversity statement requirements from job listings, only to then bury them deeper in the application process away from public view. This new revelation highlights the importance of a measure currently moving through the Arizona state legislature, SCR1019, which would give voters the chance to eliminate—once and for all--the use of such race-based, ideologically discriminatory tools in all state institutions. https://lnkd.in/gFwMnmYn

This is my first summer with a full research lab at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and I am SO amazed at how much my students are getting done! 🎊 3 PhD students + 5 undergraduates are working on: - 2 studies of mobile interventions to counter SMS phishing, aka "Smishing"; - Interviews to understand security and privacy concerns faced by first-generation international students who have come to the U.S. for degrees; - Interviews with digital forensics professionals to better understand their needs and define design requirements for improving their software; - Analysis of a first survey of U.S. and N.C. public opinion about AI and the Biden Adminstration's Executive Order on AI; - Early prototype of a human-in-the-loop AI app to provide security and privacy advice on demand. Grateful too for the aid of Heather Richter Lipford, my collaborator on the SMiSHing research and director of CCI's Research Experiences for Undergraduates program; and for the campus Office of Undergraduate Research, which is funding three of these excellent students. #academia #research

Our Top 5 #CdnPSE News Stories of Last Week: 1️⃣ON permit allocation sees reduction for one public university, thirteen public colleges : https://ow.ly/psKX50R9v3i 2️⃣ Tackling EDI issues in postsecondary requires moving beyond reactionary responses: Opinion : https://ow.ly/Yz1q50R9v3j 3️⃣ A look at the global trend of countries changing international student entry policies: Opinion : https://ow.ly/GgSc50R9v3e 4️⃣ Micro-credentials better suited for upskilling, less so for comprehensive reskilling: HEQCO Report : https://ow.ly/yCar50R9v3h 5️⃣ Universities pose uniquely attractive opportunity for cyber-attacks : https://ow.ly/fNzT50R9v3f Now, let's get started on the week ahead...

New op-ed concerning Skills-Based Hiring. It's written in the Connecticut context, but could be applied to many states. While the idea of hiring based on verified skills (rather than degrees) has promise, it's not yet happening in most places and fields. But the evidence-free discourse around SBH could harm the students who benefit most from higher education, and the public institutions that serve them. https://lnkd.in/gHfsjBx7