Hoping to create the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, Penn State Brandywine in Media and SAP in Newtown Square have partnered to support the university’s Next-Gen Lab.

The Next-Gen Lab provides University resources to companies so students can gain experience and utilize recruitment opportunities.

SAP is funding Penn State Brandywine undergraduate research. This summer’s undergraduate Next-Gen Lab research projects focus on industry and SAP-specific security challenges.

SAP is also providing professional internship and job opportunities, including student memberships in Women in Cybersecurity, which promotes recruitment, retention and advancement of women in the cybersecurity profession.

“This partnership with SAP is enabling our students to further their cybersecurity skill sets and network directly with industry professionals,” said Andy Landmesser, assistant teaching professor of information sciences and technology.

SAP resources help level the playing field for Brandywine students who often can’t afford to take advantage of opportunities to build their professional networks and conduct research, Landmesser said.

The goal for SAP is to bring a more diverse talent base to the cybersecurity industry, as well as provide guidance on ways to enrich universities’ cybersecurity curricula.

“We need creative problem solvers and look forward to the solutions these future leaders will bring to the security domain,” said Tim McKnight, chief security officer of SAP.

Under this sponsorship, SAP will be the naming sponsor for a regional one-day academic cybersecurity conference hosted by Penn State Brandywine Sept. 9 virtually and in person.

It will include regional academic institutions and their students, industry leaders and community members.

Planned conference topic areas include education and workforce development; cyber defense innovation; security operations center improvement; specialty cyber in law, business and ethics; and cyber program diversity, policy and business opportunities.

Penn State Brandywine will also work on SAP security curriculum development for SAP University and Academic Alliance conferences, workshops and boot camp opportunities.

Penn State’s Corporate Engagement Center assisted with this initiative for Penn State Brandywine. The Corporate Engagement Center is a joint initiative of Penn State’s Office of the Senior Vice President for Research and the Office of University Development, working in partnership with Career Services.

About Penn State Brandywine

Penn State Brandywine provides undergraduate education in the arts, sciences and professional fields to a highly diverse student population from Greater Philadelphia and beyond.

 Brandywine combines a small-campus environment with the extensive resources of a world-class public research university.

Penn State Brandywine establishes partnerships through business and industry, community and civic, and K-12 and higher education organizations to positively impact the region.

As a Penn State Commonwealth Campus, Brandywine pursues the University’s land-grant mission of excellence in teaching, research and outreach.

Find out more about Penn State Brandywine.