Bridging the Gap: Promoting Gender Equity in Cybersecurity Education

On International Women’s Day (March 8th), we were thrilled to join the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) in Ottawa alongside over 30 women in the Cybersecurity Training and Work Integrated Learning (CTWIL) program for a full day event of career exploration, skills testing, and networking in the cybersecurity industry. Dr. Atefeh Mashatan, Ambassador of the CTWIL program, inspired attendees with an engaging discussion about perseverance, overcoming imposter syndrome, and her journey to success in the cybersecurity sector.??

Computer Information Technology student Angela, from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, expressed, “It was really inspiring to see women in management roles speak about their career journey, and it helped me realize that there is not one set path that someone needs to take to be in the industry.”??

The CTWIL program aims to expand the pool of cybersecurity talent in Canada by supporting women and non-binary post-secondary students and enabling employers to hire them. CTWIL students from 7 partnered post-secondary institutions (the British Columbia Institute of Technology, University of Calgary, Red River College Polytechnic, Toronto Metropolitan University, Dalhousie University, University of New Brunswick, and New Brunswick Community College) traveled to Ottawa for the event, supported by the program’s funders.?

A recent ICTC study found that only 20% of cybersecurity workers in Canada identify as women, the CTWIL program was created to address this issue by providing women and non-binary post-secondary education students with access to Microsoft training and certification examinations, along with a 16-week paid work-integrated learning placement in the cybersecurity sector.?

We are grateful to the team at the CSE for their commitment to uplifting women and gender diverse individuals in cybersecurity education and industry, and for generously hosting the students of our CTWIL program.??

For information about wage subsidies to hire a CTWIL student, contact us at [email protected].?

Learn more about CTWIL here?