The advent of the post-quantum era introduces significant challenges and opportunities, particularly a pressing workforce gap in quantum computing education and skills.In response, public and private stakeholders are actively enhancing their efforts to advance quantum education.For instance, IBM's recent pledge to upskill 30 million individuals by 2030 specifically emphasizes quantum computing and cryptography.Similarly, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the U.S. National Science Foundation, have engaged in quantum education discussions at a summit that brought together leading educators and professionals in Quantum Information Science and Technology (QIST) to strategize on future workforce development.Additionally, NIST is gearing up to unveil its post-quantum cryptography standard in the near future.Despite these efforts, collaboration across sectors in aligning quantum education approaches needs more focus.As experienced educators and researchers, our observation is that while cybersecurity education has witnessed extensive collaboration across government, industry, and academia, quantum education in some sectors is not receiving the attention as highlighted by government initiatives.We propose a systematic approach, leveraging established frameworks like NICE, to integrate quantum computing education into mainstream curricula to ensure that industry will not have the large gap of filling jobs as the cybersecurity sector is currently experiencing.We present an analysis of two courses introduced in our CS department: "Introduction to Quantum Computing," and "Quantum Computing II."We outline the course modules specifically crafted to heighten students' quantum awareness and curiosity as they will be confronted with opportunities and issues related to quantum computing in their software engineering careers.Our student survey results, utilizing a Likert scale ranking, indicate a significant increase in students' interest and curiosity in quantum concepts, as well as their eagerness to further explore quantum computing.These results that we are meeting our educational objectives.
The advent of the post-quantum era introduces significant challenges and opportunities, particularly a pressing workforce gap in quantum computing education and skills.In response, public and private stakeholders are actively enhancing their efforts to advance quantum education.For instance, IBM's recent pledge to upskill 30 million individuals by 2030 specifically emphasizes quantum computing and cryptography.Similarly, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the U.S. National Science Foundation, have engaged in quantum education discussions at a summit that brought together leading educators and professionals in Quantum Information Science and Technology (QIST) to strategize on future workforce development.Additionally, NIST is gearing up to unveil its post-quantum cryptography standard in the near future.Despite these efforts, collaboration across sectors in aligning quantum education approaches needs more focus.As experienced educators and researchers, our observation is that while cybersecurity education has witnessed extensive collaboration across government, industry, and academia, quantum education in some sectors is not receiving the attention as highlighted by government initiatives.We propose a systematic approach, leveraging established frameworks like NICE, to integrate quantum computing education into mainstream curricula to ensure that industry will not have the large gap of filling jobs as the cybersecurity sector is currently experiencing.We present an analysis of two courses introduced in our CS department: "Introduction to Quantum Computing," and "Quantum Computing II."We outline the course modules specifically crafted to heighten students' quantum awareness and curiosity as they will be confronted with opportunities and issues related to quantum computing in their software engineering careers.Our student survey results, utilizing a Likert scale ranking, indicate a significant increase in students' interest and curiosity in quantum concepts, as well as their eagerness to further explore quantum computing.These results that we are meeting our educational objectives.
In response to numerous programs seeking to advance quantum education and workforce development in the United States, experts from academia, industry, government, and professional societies convened for a National Science Foundation-sponsored workshop in February 2024 to explore the benefits and challenges of establishing a national center for quantum education. Broadly, such a center would foster collaboration and build the infrastructure required to develop a diverse and quantum-ready workforce. The workshop discussions focused on how a center could uniquely address gaps in public, K-12, and undergraduate quantum information science and engineering (QISE) education. Specifically, the community identified activities that, through a center, could lead to an increase in student awareness of quantum careers, boost the number of educators trained in quantum-related subjects, strengthen pathways into quantum careers, enhance the understanding of the US quantum workforce, and elevate public engagement with QISE. Core proposed activities for the center include professional development for educators, coordinated curriculum development and curation, expanded access to educational laboratory equipment, robust evaluation and assessment practices, network building, and enhanced public engagement with quantum science.
This poster explores strategies for supporting quantum computing education in academic libraries and invites collaborative discussion on building sustainable support models. As quantum computing emerges as a transformative technology with potential to solve complex research questions across disciplines, institutions of higher education must develop effective and scalable support frameworks. Successful integration of quantum computing education and support may position institutions at the forefront of breakthrough computational research and confer benefits such as strengthening the institutional ability to attract top faculty and students, boost workforce development, and deliver a competitive advantage for funding opportunities. We present our initial framework for quantum computing support developed at the University Libraries, University of Alabama. Our instructional model employs backward design principles, emphasizing hands-on engagement with open-source quantum development tools and focusing on transferable computational thinking skills that extend beyond specific tools. Our approach centers on workshops that prioritize achievable learning outcomes tailored to diverse student backgrounds, incorporate active learning strategies, and emphasize real-world applications to build quantum literacy across disciplines. Both our successes and ongoing challenges are shared to inform broader discussions. More broadly, we invite engagement with our framework and discussion across four critical dimensions of emerging technology support including pedagogical approach, assessment strategies, technology platforms and infrastructure, and collaborative support models. Pedagogically, we seek to explore which instructional methods most effectively build quantum computing literacy for students with diverse academic backgrounds as well as strategies to strike the balance between theoretical foundations and hands-on practice. With assessment, we seek meaningful assessment approaches that can address varied student backgrounds and account for steep learning curves accompanying emerging technologies. For technology, we endeavor to discover which platforms will work best within higher education and ensure access and reliability for students and educators on a broad scale. And finally, we seek to examine how academic libraries and other units collaborate to build sustainable, coordinated support infrastructure. As quantum computing and other emerging technologies reshape higher education, academic libraries may be uniquely positioned to lead support for quantum computing by democratizing access to computational resources and bridging gaps between research, instruction, and student success. To that end, we invite discussion on how academic libraries can help to build sustainable, adaptable, and collaborative models to support quantum computing. We seek experiences, challenges, and strategies to inform best practices while aligning with library and other campus computing efforts and meeting the evolving needs of students.
Quantum computing is an emerging field with growing implications across science and industry, making early educational exposure increasingly important. This paper examines how quantum computing concepts can be introduced into high-school STEM curricula within existing structures to enhance foundational learning in mathematics, computer science, and physics. We outline a modular integration strategy introducing key quantum ideas into standard courses, leveraging open-source educational resources to ensure global accessibility. Emphasis is placed on educational opportunity and equity: the approach is designed to be inclusive and to bridge current curricular gaps so that students worldwide can develop basic quantum literacy. Our analysis demonstrates that integrating quantum topics at the secondary level is feasible and can enrich STEM learning.
Article History Received: Accepted: This framework addresses the critical gap between post-quantum standards and workforce readiness. Shor's algorithm demonstrates that sufficiently powerful quantum computers can break the cryptographic foundations of internet security. While the cryptography research community has developed quantum-resistant algorithms, educational institutions have not prepared students to implement these solutions. Recent surveys show fewer than half of organizations have begun planning for post-quantum cryptography (PQC) transitions (Entrust Cybersecurity Institute, 2024; U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2023; (ISC)², 2024). The NICE Framework (Newhouse, Keith, Scribner, & Witte, 2017) outlines the knowledge and skills that cybersecurity professionals should possess. The framework omits post-quantum cryptography entirely. Organizations are not ready either. A 2024 survey found that only 44% have started planning for the transition (Entrust Cybersecurity Institute, 2024). Worse, 43% do not even know what cryptographic systems they currently use (Entrust Cybersecurity Institute, 2024). Without that basic inventory, migration planning is impossible. We developed the Quantum Readiness Framework (QRF) to prepare the workforce that these organizations need. Our five-dimensional model connects post-quantum cryptography standards with practical workforce development strategies. The model integrates foundational quantum concepts, quantum-resistant cryptographic techniques, practical deployment strategies, AI-assisted learning, and neurodiversity-informed pedagogies. It creates pathways for diverse student populations to develop the skills organizations urgently need. The QRF provides institutions with an actionable blueprint for preparing students to deploy quantum-resistant cryptography.
Quantum information science and engineering (QISE) is advancing rapidly, creating an urgent demand for a quantum-literate, technically proficient workforce. Despite this need, quantum education initiatives remain fragmented across regions, educational levels, and instructional approaches, which constrains their scalability and overall impact. This paper offers a structured analysis of the current quantum education ecosystem by synthesizing global initiatives, pedagogical strategies, and emerging trends. Quantum education is examined through a dual framework that considers both learner progression and instructional methodology, emphasizing the evolution of educational approaches from conceptual exposure to formal reasoning and practical application. Analysis of data from international programs and academic literature reveals key challenges, including inequitable access, absence of standardized curricula, limited empirical evaluation, and discontinuities between educational stages. Quantum education is more accurately conceptualized as a non-linear ecosystem rather than a traditional pipeline, characterized by multiple entry points, feedback mechanisms, and critical transition gaps. Based on this perspective, directions are proposed for developing more coherent, inclusive, and scalable educational frameworks that align with workforce requirements and technological progress. This work presents a unified perspective on the quantum education landscape and outlines actionable strategies to enhance global quantum literacy and workforce preparedness.
Quantum Technologies are experiencing significant growth due to substantial investments made by governments worldwide. These investments aim to enhance global competitiveness in this field and position countries as key players. However, facing the changes of this new paradigm requires an increment in the workforce with specialized expertise in Quantum Technologies, particularly in the area of Quantum Computing. In this paper, we present a concise overview of the current quantum computing education offers and an outline of the current job offer landscape. We highlight essential elements for individuals interested in building a career profile in quantum software engineering, including understanding the professional requirements that experts and companies have established. The main goal of this paper is to offer an overview of the current educational and professional landscape in the quantum software engineering field, empowering the next generation of software engineers to thrive in a quantum technology-driven future that will profoundly impact human lives.