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BonaVia × ExpertEase | AI and Cybersecurity Career Practicum

AI, Software Engineering & Cybersecurity Program for High School Students

Guided by a Senior Security Advisor with Mandiant at Google Cloud, students build a cyber-attack and defence simulation product from the ground up. They move from threat modelling, product requirements and system architecture into full-stack development, attack-and-defence logic, an interactive dashboard, focused AI-assisted security features, and a final technical presentation in which they explain their decisions and trade-offs.

  • Grades 9–12
  • 12 Weeks
  • 120 Hours
  • Online
  • No Prior Coding or Cybersecurity Experience Required
Apply for a Student Fit ReviewRead Student Stories
BONAVIA · CAREER PRACTICUMSecure SystemSECURE SYSTEM | Identify Threats · Design Systems · Build Products · Explain Decisions
01Threats
02Architecture
03Defence

Mentor & Program Supervisor

Liam Adams

Senior Security Advisor, Mandiant at Google Cloud

  • Former Senior Manager, Cybersecurity at PwC
  • Adjunct Faculty, UBC Sauder School of Business
  • CISSP
  • BC Business 30 Under 30

Liam brings experience across enterprise cybersecurity, threat intelligence, security strategy and higher education. He will guide students in breaking complex risks into clear questions, building reasonable threat models, handling the trade-off between security and usability, and explaining their technical judgment in the final presentation.

What Makes This Program Different

Students do not simply learn technical tools. They turn security judgment into a product they can demonstrate.

01

Guided by a Current Cybersecurity Professional

Students learn from a mentor with experience in enterprise security, threat intelligence, consulting and university teaching, seeing how professional teams analyse risk and communicate technical decisions.

02

One Product Across the Full Program

Threat research, interaction design, front-end and back-end logic, data tracking and the final demonstration all build around the same cyber simulation product.

03

Software, Security and AI in One System

Students connect these fields rather than treating them as separate topics, understanding how they work together to support a secure and useful product.

04

Students Must Explain Technical Trade-offs

Code and interface design are not the conclusion. Students explain what the system protects, where threats come from, why a design was chosen and what risks remain.

From Curiosity to the Real World of Cyber Defence

A security system is not valuable because it looks complex. It is valuable when it understands the threat.

Students begin with a specific attack-and-defence scenario and examine how attackers look for weaknesses, how defenders identify risk, and how architecture, user experience, data and policy shape the outcome. At every stage, they return to one question: can this system both function and withstand reasonable security scrutiny?

  1. 01Identify the users, assets and business context that require protection
  2. 02Examine threat paths such as phishing, ransomware and brute-force attacks
  3. 03Turn threats into product requirements and attack-and-defence rules
  4. 04Design front-end, back-end, data and access-control logic
  5. 05Build and test an interactive simulation product
  6. 06Explain the architecture, risks and next improvements in a final presentation

Three Connected Dimensions

Build, Defend and Decide: Three Dimensions of Modern Technology

These are not three separate courses. Students connect software development, cyber defence and AI-assisted judgment within one coherent attack-and-defence product.

01

Software Engineering and Product Development

Turn an idea into a technical product that can run, be tested and be demonstrated.

  • Define users, scenarios and core functions
  • Plan the front end, back end and data flow
  • Build an MVP with tools such as React, Node.js or Python
  • Design interactions, scoring and feedback
02

Cybersecurity and Defence

Understand how attackers search for weaknesses and how defenders protect systems, detect risk and respond to threats.

  • Build a threat model and attack paths
  • Examine risks such as phishing, ransomware and brute-force attacks
  • Design permissions, defence rules and response mechanisms
  • Identify which risks are addressed and which remain
03

AI-Powered Security Innovation

Explore how AI can support risk identification, threat analysis and security decisions while keeping verification and judgment with the student.

  • Identify security tasks suited to focused AI support
  • Design an analysis or feedback feature
  • Use data to support automated decisions
  • Test reliability, limitations and possible errors

The 12-Week Professional Journey

From the first threat scenario to a cybersecurity product that can be tested and explained.

Six stages build around one attack-and-defence simulation. Students first understand the problem, then design the system, complete development, test risk and present both the technical outcome and the judgment behind it.

  1. 01

    Weeks 1–2

    Cybersecurity Foundations and Threat Context

    Learn about attack surfaces, assets, vulnerabilities, threat actors and defence goals, then select a cyber scenario suited to the project scope.

  2. 02

    Weeks 3–4

    Product Requirements and Simulation Rules

    Define users, attack and defence roles, action cards, scoring and outcomes, turning a security challenge into clear product requirements.

  3. 03

    Weeks 5–6

    Full-Stack Architecture and Core Features

    Plan the front end, back end and data structure, build the MVP, and implement the main user flow, state changes and interactions.

  4. 04

    Weeks 7–8

    Attack-Defence Logic and Visual Dashboard

    Add attack actions, defence responses, risk consequences, scoring and data tracking so users can see how each decision changes the system.

  5. 05

    Weeks 9–10

    Focused AI Features, Security Testing and Iteration

    Explore a focused AI-assisted analysis or feedback feature, test product logic and edge cases, identify weaknesses and improve the system. Students also design a focused AI tool prototype for a mentor-company cybersecurity workflow and test its reliability and limits.

  6. 06

    Weeks 11–12

    Product Demonstration and Final Technical Defence

    Complete a demonstrable version and explain the threat model, system architecture, technical trade-offs, testing results and next improvements.

Would you like to explore whether this learning path fits the student?

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What Students Complete

Every outcome must be understood by the student and explained in their own words.

Together, these deliverables show how a student turns a security challenge into product requirements, a technical system and a decision that can withstand questioning.

01

Threat Model and Attack-Defence Scenario

Explain what the system protects, the threats it may face, and the goals of attackers and defenders.

02

Product Requirements and User Flow

Translate the security problem into clear functions, roles, rules, interfaces and user journeys.

03

System Architecture and Data Logic

Map the relationship between the front end, back end, stored data, state changes and permissions.

04

Cyber Simulation MVP

Build a working core version of the web product that can be used and demonstrated.

05

Interactive Dashboard and Scoring System

Visualise decisions, success rates, consequences and progress through the simulation.

06

Testing Record and Improvement Plan

Document functional tests, security concerns, edge cases and areas for future development.

07

Final Technical Presentation and Defence

Demonstrate the product, answer questions and explain why the system was designed this way.

08

AI Security Tool Prototype for the Mentor Company

Design a testable AI tool for a focused threat-analysis, risk-identification or security-feedback workflow.

Student Experiences

What Students Say

11 student perspectives

These reflections come from students across different BonaVia × ExpertEase career practicums. Each card identifies the student’s original program, mentor background and year.

01

Student A.L. | Software Engineering Career Program | Mentor background: Citadel | 2025

Gaining Technology and Industry Insight Beyond School

“My school had never given me this kind of exposure to technology or the industry. Through the apprenticeship, I started to see what the field looks like outside a classroom. Working with a mentor who is actively shaping the field made a huge difference. I was learning from someone with firsthand knowledge, which gave the experience a completely different weight. It changed what I thought was possible for my future and helped me see technology as more than something I studied at school. It became a path I could actually imagine for myself.”
02

Student J.X. | AI Career Program | Mentor background: Google | 2025

A Program That Completely Changed My Understanding of AI

“Before this program, AI mostly meant chatbots and homework tools to me. I did not realize how much more people were doing with it. Learning how major tech companies use AI was honestly mind-blowing. At school, a lot of students are still told not to use AI at all. Here, I learned how to use it to research, build, test ideas, and solve real problems while still thinking for myself. That completely changed the way I see AI. Most students my age have not had the chance to work with it this way yet, so I feel like I now have a really useful starting point. I would highly recommend the program to students who want to experiment with AI for themselves.”
03

Student D.H. | Private Equity & Investment Banking Career Program | Mentor background: Pender Software Holdings | 2025

From Not Understanding PE to Completing the Full Analysis Process

“Before this program, I honestly wasn’t sure what private equity was. Now I feel like I have a pretty solid idea of how it works. Going through a deal process was a big takeaway in itself because there is so much more to it than I expected. We worked through a CIM, wrote an investment memo, and had to decide whether a company was actually a good buy. That made private equity feel real instead of just being another finance term I had heard before. By the end, I could explain the process in my own words and understand why each step mattered. I learned a lot and would genuinely recommend this program to anyone who is curious about finance.”
04

Student P.S. | Private Equity & Investment Banking Career Program | Mentor background: Pender Software Holdings | 2025

Learning the Real Day-to-Day Work and Analytical Process

“The first things I learned were more of the day-to-day tasks, like building a CIM and writing an investment memo. We also talked about normalized EBITDA, competitive moats, debt, risk, and how to analyze whether a company is a good buy. At first, some of these terms sounded pretty confusing, but using them in a real project made them much easier to understand. This was not just memorizing definitions or making a basic presentation. We had to look at the information, question the assumptions, and explain our own decisions. I really liked that the work felt close to what people in finance actually do. It taught me much more than I could have learned from a textbook.”
05

Student F.S. | Private Equity & Investment Banking Career Program | Mentor background: Pender Software Holdings | 2025

Using Program Knowledge in Networking Conversations

“I didn’t know how impactful this program would be, but once I started going to networking events, the small points we learned made a really big difference. I remember reviewing our notes about debt and risk before one event and then using that knowledge to ask a much better question. The person I spoke with actually had a lot to say about it, and the conversation landed really well. Before the program, I would not have known what to ask or how to explain my question clearly. This is knowledge I probably never would have learned otherwise. The program made me much more confident speaking with professionals and helped me feel like I could actually take part in the conversation.”
06

Student A.W. | Finance Career Program | Mentor background: Pender Software Holdings | 2026

Seeing What Finance Careers Really Look Like and Discovering More Options

“Before the program, I didn’t really know what working in finance looked like. I honestly wondered, is it really just Excel spreadsheets every single day? Speaking with a mentor who actually works in the industry put the role into perspective and helped me understand what people really do. I also realized that finance is applicable to so many things, and that investment banking and consulting are not the only paths. The program opened me up to different options and possibilities in finance that I had never considered before. It gave me a much wider view of the industry and helped me think more clearly about what I might want to study or explore in the future. I would absolutely recommend it, especially if you are interested in finance but have no idea where to start.”
07

Student A.L. | Marketing Career Program | Mentor background: PwC | 2025

Creating a Launch Plan for a Real Brand

“I honestly thought market research was pretty straightforward: make a survey, find a few statistics, and put everything into a PowerPoint. Then we started working with a real local business, and I realized how much I had missed. We had to understand the customers, study the competition, plan the launch, and write a marketing plan the business could actually use. Some parts of our plan were carried out, which was probably the biggest surprise for me. It felt completely different from handing in an assignment and getting a grade. Something we created was useful in the real world. That was incredibly satisfying. I learned a lot.”
08

Student J.W. | Marketing Career Program | Mentor background: PwC | 2024

How a High School Experience Helped Me Land a Paid Internship

“I completed this program in Grade 12, and it became one of the most useful experiences on my resume. In my first year of university, it was a big reason I landed a paid internship. During the interview, I could explain the entire business process clearly, from market research and strategy to the launch and results. I could explain why we made each decision and answer follow-up questions because I had done the work in depth. I was not repeating marketing terms or trying to make a small school project sound bigger than it was. I knew what I was talking about. Getting that experience before I graduated from high school gave me a huge head start.”
09

Student A.L. | Biomedical Career Program | Mentor background: PhD mentor | 2026

Where Research Meets Business

“I joined because I was interested in biomedical science, so I assumed the program would focus mostly on research. I did not expect business to be such a big part of it. A great invention still has to become something people can understand, access, and use, and I had never really thought about that side before. The program taught me to consider the science behind an idea as well as what it takes to bring that idea into the real world. That connection between science and business became my favorite part. I am now planning my own product line, and this experience gave me a much clearer idea of where to begin.”
10

Student O.W. | Product Manager Career Program | Mentor background: P&G | 2024

Building a Mentor Connection and Getting an Early Career Head Start

“My mentor was awesome! She taught us, but what I remember most was how she connected with us and shared her own journey. That made the experience feel personal. I was learning from someone who was willing to talk about what her path had actually looked like. I also built connections through the program, and some of them have already opened doors to opportunities I never imagined. Getting that kind of exposure so early feels like a real head start on my career.”
11

Student A.H. | Graphic Design Career Program | Mentor background: Nike | 2023

Bringing Creative Ideas to Life in Real Projects

“It was amazing to see my ideas come to life in real projects. Working on real projects made the skills I was developing feel much more concrete. What stayed with me most was knowing that the work had a tangible impact. That was such a cool feeling. The experience also made my college applications stand out. By the time the program ended, I felt much more prepared for whatever comes next.”

01/11

Ready to explore whether the program is a good fit?

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Starting Point

Who Is This Program For?

  • Open to students in Grades 9–12
  • No prior coding, cybersecurity, AI or product-development experience required
  • Relevant to students exploring computer science, software engineering, cybersecurity, AI, product design or technology policy
  • Ready to invest time, ask questions, test ideas and complete project work

Personalized Learning Design

Students do not all begin in the same place. Each receives a pathway toward the same professional standard.

Before the project begins, the team considers each student’s coding experience, technical understanding, logical foundation and pace of learning. We then tailor preparation materials, core-concept instruction and stage-specific support. A student coding for the first time can build the necessary foundation, while a more experienced student can take on deeper architecture, implementation and testing.

The pathway may differ, but the final standard does not: every student must understand the system, complete substantive work, explain technical choices and take ownership of the outcome.

01

Tailored Preparation

Preparation in programming, cybersecurity, product logic and tools is selected around the student’s starting point.

02

Personalized Technical Pathway

Technical depth, tool combinations and milestone tasks are adjusted within the same project objective.

03

Stage-Specific Support

Students receive focused instruction and feedback at key architecture, development, testing and communication stages.

Growth and University Preparation

The value is not in listing technical terms. It is in showing how the student solved a complex problem.

The program title alone does not determine a university outcome. The value comes from whether the student personally defined the problem, designed the system, wrote and understood the code, tested risk, and can explain why a particular architecture and defence approach were chosen.

These experiences can help students understand computer science, software engineering, cybersecurity and AI more realistically while giving them a technical process, judgment and outcome they may later discuss in applications, résumés, portfolios and interviews.

Apply to the Program

Program Application

The program is open to students in Grades 9–12, with no prior coding or cybersecurity experience required. Preparation materials, the technical pathway and project support are personalized to the student’s starting level so they can build the required foundation and progress toward the cyber simulation product and final technical presentation.

Application Process

  1. 01Interest Form
  2. 02Fit Assessment & Interview
  3. 03Admission and Enrolment
Apply for a Student Fit Review

The regular format runs for 12 weeks, with an average commitment of 10+ hours per week. The summer intensive runs for about 1.5 months, with an average commitment of 20+ hours per week. The program is fully online.

Start Here

Complete the 1-Minute Student Fit Form

Tell us about the student’s current grade, technical interests and goals. BonaVia will consider the commitment, learning style and starting point, then help the family understand whether this experience is a good fit.

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