START, the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, recently received its fifth Career Development Grant from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The grant, which funds career development programs at individual universities and centers across the nation, has been awarded to the University of Maryland's START Center five years in a row for each of the five years that the DHS has offered the grant. START will be using the nearly $190,000 grant to offer six students (generally incoming juniors) admission to a two-year career development program during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 academic years.
The START Center's Career Development Programs provide University of Maryland students with a generous scholarship and career development support in relation to future employment opportunities in national security, transnational security, homeland security and counter-terrorism. The program includes a series of career development workshops, internships, language training, research projects, professional networking sessions and the establishment of two mentors - one to support their academic interests and the other to support their professional progress.
Students are also cross-trained on a number of important research, analysis and professional skill sets ensuring that they are well prepared for their future careers. Participants in the program also benefit from a network of partnering universities and centers, both domestic and international, which offer students a broad spectrum of opportunities, experiences and field training. Awardees have the unique benefit of exploring, expanding and maintaining START's Global Terrorism Database, a repository of information on terrorist activities and attacks around the world.
Many of the program's other unique activities are open not only to awardees, but to the entire university. Research 'round-tables' and career 'profile sessions' are open to groups of 30 students or more, giving individuals the opportunity to share academic and professional focuses and increase their knowledge of ongoing research trends and emerging global security issues. START is also a large proponent of STEM programs (promoting the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and their relevance to the social sciences.
For Maryland residents, the START Center's development program offers its awardees the equivalent of a full scholarship, based on the level of funding and current tuition expenses. After completing their coursework, one of the requirements of the program is that awardees must agree to take up employment in the national security, transnational security, homeland security and counter-terrorism sector for at least one year.