More Girls Are Applying For Cyber Security Training
There has been a significant increase in the number of young women applying for cyber security courses. Britain's National Cyber Security Centre, (NCSC), has reported that applications from girls for the NCSC's 2019 CyberFirst summer courses were up 47% compared to last year.
Rather appropriately, the surge in female applicants for the free cyber-security courses was announced on Ada Lovelace Day, an international celebration of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) held every year on the second Tuesday of October.
According to figures reported by Infosecurity Magazine, nearly 12,000 girls took part in the prestigious CyberFirst Girls Competition 2019. Also, the CyberFirst Defenders course, which introduces teenagers to how to build and protect small networks and personal devices, had 705 female participants.
NCSC's cyber security courses, which are held at venues across the UK, have proved to be popular beyond just girls, with the center reporting a 29% rise in overall applications in 2019 compared to the year before.
Working with training experts QA and education charity The Smallpeice Trust, the NCSC delivers a range of one-day and five-day courses for 11- to 17-year-olds each year.
Participants are given the opportunity to encounter and explore everyday technology so they can build an understanding of how it works. They also attend lectures, learn through hands-on practical projects, and have the chance to hear presentations by guest speakers. As part of the NCSC's CyberFirst initiative, young people interested in studying cybersecurity at university can apply for an annual bursary of £4,000. They can also put themselves forward for three-year apprenticeships in the cyber-security industry, which allow them to earn while they complete a recognised degree course.
Chris Ensor, NCSC deputy director for growth, said: "We're delighted to see so many young people interested in finding out more about cybersecurity. The significant rise in female applications is especially pleasing, and something we want to see continue into the future.
"It's never been more important to increase and diversify the cyber-security workforce and we're committed to nurturing the next generation of skilled experts and addressing the gender imbalance."
You Might Also Read:
NCSC Aims To Inspire Young Female Code-Breakers:
