In a first for Queensland, Australia, scholarships will be offered to female, non-binary and Indigenous people in a bid to improve representation rates in the field of cybersecurity.
According to a recent press release, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Online announced a new cybersecurity scholarship for those looking to transition into the ICT industry and specialise in cybersecurity.
Background
The scholarships will be offered to female, non-binary and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who enroll in the Graduate Diploma in Information Technology (Cyber Security and Networks), which is a one-year online course launching in February 2020.
Demand for cybersecurity professionals across Australia continues to grow, with almost 18,000 additional skilled professionals needed by 2026 to service what is expected to be a $6 billion industry.
Currently, less than 20% of the global cybersecurity workforce, and only 1% of C-Level Executives, are women.
Dr Leonie Simpson, Senior Lecturer in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University, was optimistic that the scholarships would encourage diversity and inclusion in the cybersecurity industry.
There is an urgent need for skilled professionals with the right cybersecurity, and leadership, credentials to stay one step ahead of the ever-evolving national and global cyber threats facing government organisations and businesses.
It is essential that pathways into these positions are available to all Australians of all backgrounds, including female, non-binary and Indigenous Australians, to promote diversity in the burgeoning industry.
About the Initiative
The Graduate Diploma in Information Technology (Cyber Security and Networks) will provide graduates the necessary cybersecurity and leadership expertise to pursue a range of careers, from ICT project manager to cybersecurity lead, to network analyst.
Delivered online, students will be part of a flexible and interactive learning environment that allows them to log on and learn when and where it suits them.
The scholarship will cover 25% of successful students’ course fees. Scholarships are limited. Applications for the course close on 25 January and can be lodged online.
QUT Online offers QUT excellence without borders across postgraduate courses in the disciplines of Business, Project Management, IT, Education, Health, Justice, Law and Digital Communication.
Delivering a flexible, innovative learning experience that fits around competing, real-world priorities, it provides comprehensive support to ensure students succeed in their studies and beyond.
Joining a community of like-minded individuals with broad perspectives and a shared desire to have a positive impact, students graduate with the adaptability to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Boosting the Number of Women in ICT
The significance of having women learn ICT skills had been increasing as more and more recognise the need to get more women into the field.
OpenGov Asia recently reported on Scholarships to boost the number of women in IoT.
The City of Greater Bendigo, in Australia, has made a commitment to fund six scholarships over the next three years in order for women to study the new Master of Internet of Things (IoT).
The scholarships will be supporting female students who will be studying the Australian-first course, which is available at the Bendigo campus of La Trobe University in 2020.
Diversity provides greatly improved outcomes, more creativity and new innovations and ideas that otherwise may not have come to the fore.
Similarly, a Women in Technology Scholarship has been established by the mission-critical technology solutions provider, Kordia, at the University of Waikato, New Zealand.
The Scholarship aims to increase number of women in ICT. It addresses the gender imbalance in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector.
Among the objectives of this Scholarship include acknowledging and supporting up-and-coming female talent and future technology leaders.