HCR 75: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO ASSESS THE CRITERIA REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH AN EDUCATIONAL PIPELINE and curriculum TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS acquire the NECESSARY SKILLS IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND CYBERSECURITY.

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO ASSESS THE CRITERIA REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH AN EDUCATIONAL PIPELINE and curriculum TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS acquire the NECESSARY SKILLS IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND CYBERSECURITY.

     WHEREAS, advanced manufacturing refers to the incorporation of various innovative technologies, such as artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and robotics, in the manufacturing process; and

     WHEREAS, increasing local manufacturing production reduces shipping and imports costs and enhances delivery times; and

     WHEREAS, by using cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and robotics, advanced manufacturing can streamline processes and increase productivity as well as improve quality, reduce costs, and increase flexibility; and

     WHEREAS, cybersecurity is the art of protecting networks, devices, and data from unauthorized access or criminal use and the practice of ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information; and

     WHEREAS, with a large military presence in Hawaii, there are opportunities to work with the United States government on cybersecurity by adopting advanced technologies and tackling challenges to ensure a better, safer world; and

     WHEREAS, the Honolulu Community College's Cybersecurity Center was created to showcase the different cybersecurity programs and resources available to students and faculty and offers the Associate of Sciences program in Computing Security & Networking Technology; and

     WHEREAS, the Leeward Community College is officially designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, recognizing collegiate institutions which have met standards of excellence in cyber defense education, and is an award established by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security; and

     WHEREAS, the Leeward Community College's Information and Computer Science program has an articulation agreement with the University of Hawaii at West Oahu and University of Hawaii Maui College's Applied Business and Information Technology Program that students who achieve their Associate of Science in Information and Computer Science can transfer and complete the Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology and Information Security Assurance; and

     WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii at Manoa's School of Engineering offers Bachelor, Masters, and Doctoral degrees in a wide variety of disciplines such as civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering; and

     WHEREAS, if the local workforce has not received the skills necessary to hold positions in high technology industries, companies will have no choice but to solicit workers from out-of-state; and

     WHEREAS, the Department of Education and University of Hawaii have the responsibility to ensure that students are prepared to successfully enter the workforce upon graduation; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Education and University of Hawaii are requested to assess the criteria required to establish an educational pipeline and curriculum to ensure that students acquire the necessary skills in advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity to prepare them to successfully enter the workforce upon graduation and secure jobs in high technology industries; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education and University of Hawaii are each requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education, Superintendent of Education, Chairperson of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii, and President of the University of Hawaii.

Report Title:

Department of Education; University of Hawaii; Advanced Manufacturing; Cybersecurity; Education

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1632

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.C.R. No. 75

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committees on Education and Higher Education, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 75 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO ASSESS THE CRITERIA REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH AN EDUCATIONAL PIPELINE AND CURRICULUM TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS ACQUIRE THE NECESSARY SKILLS IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND CYBERSECURITY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Education and University of Hawaii to assess the criteria required to establish an educational pipeline and curriculum to ensure that students acquire the necessary skills in advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System; Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corporation; Hawaii Military Affairs Council; and one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

     Your Committees find that advanced manufacturing refers to the incorporation of various innovative technologies that can reduce shipping and import costs and enhance delivery times if implemented locally.  Your Committees further find that cybersecurity is the art of protecting networks, devices, and data from unauthorized access or criminal use and the practice of ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.  Your Committees recognize the growing importance of advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity and believe that providing education in these fields will give students the skills needed to enter into growing modern industries.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 75 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Higher Education,