ISACA Foundation Expands Scholarship Program to Boost Cybersecurity and IT Talent Pipeline
Event summary
- ISACA Foundation opened its next scholarship cycle, offering $500–$5,000 awards for tech and cybersecurity education.
- Since 2022, the program has awarded $1.5M to 800+ students, with 51% identifying as women and 41% as first-generation.
- New mentorship cohorts added this year to support long-term career development for recipients.
- Global reach expanded from 29 to 41 countries, with partnerships growing alongside corporate supporters.
The big picture
The ISACA Foundation's scholarship expansion aligns with broader industry efforts to democratize access to cybersecurity and IT education. As digital trust fields face growing talent shortages, initiatives like these are critical for cultivating diverse, skilled workforces. The addition of mentorship cohorts signals a strategic shift toward long-term career support, potentially setting a new standard for educational outreach in tech.
What we're watching
- Talent Pipeline Growth
- Whether the expanded scholarship program can sustainably address the global cybersecurity skills gap.
- Diversity Impact
- How the focus on underrepresented groups will influence long-term representation in tech and cybersecurity fields.
- Industry Collaboration
- The pace at which corporate and academic partnerships scale to support emerging professionals.
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