There has been a sharp rise in the number of girls applying to CyberFirst summer courses on cyber-security, up 60% this year.
The CyberFirst cyber-security training scheme was created by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) as a way to promote the UK's cyber-security growth at the school level, getting young people aged 14-17 interested in digital technologies, IoT, and cyber-security. The schemes are run by partners all over the UK, and have been popular in Northern Ireland.
The scheme has also saught to improve gender diversity by promoting cyber-security as an interest to girls early, with specific CyberFirst Girls summer camps. That focus is really starting to pay off this year, with the number of applications from girls increasing by 60% this year compared to previous years.
Applications to the cyber-security training schemes have increased this year overall due to factors such as students having more free time this summer and the increased accessibility of running events remotely, but the sharpest rise in application came from girls. Applications from boys rose by 30% from 1,824 to 2,398 this year, while those from girls jumped 60% from 930 to 1,492 this year.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has also recently extended its CyberFirst University Bursary for older students aiming to get into the cyber-security industry, with additional places made available.
Source: Irish News
