DRiving Automotive Industry WorkForce Transformation (DRIFT)

WPI Training Program to Strengthen Cybersecurity and AI in the U.S. Automotive Industry
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Advance Your Career with DRIFT

WPI is part of a coalition of universities and colleges offering educational training aimed to drive the U.S. automotive industry forward, while maintaining competitiveness, enhancing vehicle safety, and securing critical infrastructure.

Funded by a grant from the National Centers for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C), the “DRiving Automotive Industry WorkForce Transformation (DRIFT): Excellence and Innovation in Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence” program, or DRIFT, will offer workshops, tutorials, modules, to automotive industry professionals to improve their skills in cybersecurity and AI.

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Learn More About DRIFT

The DRIFT team will develop and offer nationally relevant and vital training programs through in-person, online, and hybrid modalities addressing comprehensive upskilling and reskilling opportunities tailored for automotive engineers, cybersecurity and AI professionals, military and civilian defense personnel, information technology (IT) professionals, educators, students, departments of transportation (DOT) personnel, defense professionals, and other key stakeholders. This investment promises significant positive returns in the future by addressing the critical current and persistent skills gap related to cybersecurity and AI generally and as directly applicable to the automotive industry specifically.

Topics/instruction will cover:

  • Basics of autonomous vehicles, including key components and the current industry landscape.
  • Common security challenges in AI systems, with a focus on autonomous vehicles.
  • Recent research and developments in AI security for automotive applications.
  • Vulnerabilities in AI systems and develop solutions through case studies and practical exercises.

The following partner institutions will join WPI in offering the DRIFT program:  

  • Oakland University (OU)
  • University of Delaware (UD)
  • University of Michigan – Dearborn (UMD)
  • Sinclair Community College (SCC)
  • Cleveland State University (CSU)

DRIFT Training Activities

The DRIFT@WPI training activities are tentatively scheduled as follows. To apply for trainings, please go to the DRIFT coalition site (link to be here soon) for more information and application links. Scholarship available to cover all costs. 

WPI Trainings Title Start Date End Date Days Times Notes
Fast-track Tutorial Secure Programming for Cybersecurity in Connected Vehicles 8/25/25 8/28/25 M, R 5-9 pm EST 8 hours in total
Fast-track Tutorial Secure Programming for Cybersecurity in Connected Vehicles 9/29/25 10/2/25 M, R 5-9 pm EST 8 hours in total
Workshop Security in AI for Automotive Applications 9/2/25 9/5/25 T, W, R, F 5-9 pm EST 16 hours in total
Workshop Security in AI for Automotive Applications 10/6/25 10/9/25 M, T, W, R 5-9 pm EST 16 hours in total
Module Cybersecurity Threats and Countermeasures in Connected Vehicles 11/17/25 11/20/25 M, T, W, R 9:00am - 5:00pm EST 4 day events
Module Cybersecurity Threats and Countermeasures in Connected Vehicles 12/1/25 12/4/25 M, T, W, R 9:00am - 5:00pm EST 4 day events