Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting computer systems, hardware, networks, and data from cyberattacks. As awareness of digital threats grows, global investment in cybersecurity continues to rise. Cybersecurity is critical because it safeguards sensitive data from theft, damage, and disruption. The global cybersecurity market is forecast to grow to $345.4 billion USD by 2026, reflecting its increasing importance in our digital world. [source]
Founded in 2021, Cyber For School Girls is a non-profit organisation in Ireland. Our mission is to address the complex problem of closing the gender and skills gap in the Irish cybersecurity industry by educating and inspiring schoolgirls through hands-on workshops and other activities.
Founded
2021
What is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting computer systems, hardware, networks, and data from cyberattacks. As awareness of digital threats grows, global investment in cybersecurity continues to rise. Cybersecurity is critical because it safeguards sensitive data from theft, damage, and disruption. The global cybersecurity market is forecast to grow to $345.4 billion USD by 2026, reflecting its increasing importance in our digital world.
What is Cybersecurity?
The Challenge
Women currently make up less than one quarter of the global cybersecurity workforce, and in Ireland, only 1 in 5 computer science graduates are women. [source]
This gap is further widened by the “leaky pipeline” effect, where many women leave STEM careers after graduation. Only 38% of women who major in computer science remain in the field, compared to 53% of men. [source]
Women are disproportionately missing out on the ongoing boom in tech. In fact, the gender ratio in tech roles has declined over the past 35 years. Half of the women who enter the tech industry leave it by age 35, according to data from Accenture. [source]
The Challenge
Women currently make up less than one quarter of the global cybersecurity workforce, and in Ireland, only 1 in 5 computer science graduates are women.
[https://www.sfi.ie/research-news/news/codeplus-women-pathway/]
This gap is further widened by the “leaky pipeline” effect, where many women leave STEM careers after graduation. Only 38% of women who major in computer science remain in the field, compared to 53% of men. [https://cioventure.com/women-in-tech-statistics-the-hard-truths-of-an-uphill-battle/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
Women are disproportionately missing out on the ongoing boom in tech. In fact, the gender ratio in tech roles has declined over the past 35 years. Half of the women who enter the tech industry leave it by age 35, according to data from Accenture. [https://cioventure.com/women-in-tech-statistics-the-hard-truths-of-an-uphill-battle/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
Our Mission
We believe the world is a better place when there is gender balance in every sector. At Cyber For Schoolgirls, our mission is to address the gender and skills gap in cybersecurity by starting early. By introducing secondary schoolgirls to cybersecurity and supporting them through third-level education, we aim to empower the next generation of women in tech. Our goal is to help kickstart the cybersecurity careers of 100 young women in Ireland.
How We Help
We’ve developed a programme of activities to support students from the second year of secondary school through to the fourth year of university. Our outreach also includes parents, teachers, and school leaders to raise awareness of cybersecurity as a viable, exciting, and meaningful career.
The Programme
Our program is designed to develop interest, engage and encourage girls in secondary school to choose cybersecurity as their career path. Through a series of talks, practical workshops, and guidance we aim to help more girls have a supported and successful cybersecurity career.
Events & Recognition
Cyber for Schoolgirls was registered with the CRO in March 2021. Since then, we have built up a team of volunteers with industry knowledge and formed a board of directors to help us achieve our mission.
Further, we:
- Appeared as an event sponsor for the Business Post first cybersecurity summit in 2022.
- Appeared on stage at the Shona Festival addressing over 2000 secondary school girls in 2022.
- Had our first secondary school visit to Kingswood Community College with 24 girls in attendance in 2022.
- Had our second secondary school visit to Stanhope Secondary School with 15 girls in attendance in 2022.
- Attended ESB Science Blast exhibition in 2023.
- Partnered with Women in STEM Awards in 2023.
- Partnered with Cyber Futures and signed a MoU for an Escape Room activity in 2023.
- Partnered with Cyber Futures at the I Wish exhibition in 2024.
- Partnered with Women in STEM Awards in 2024.
- Were nominated for Role Model of the year at the Women in STEM Awards in 2024.
- Partnered with PGIM in Letterkenny in 2024, with 14 girls from 3 different secondary schools in attendance. We hosted a successful workshop that included interactive learning activities and cybersecurity career insights.
- Established strong relationships with ISACA under SheLeadsTech, aligning with global efforts to empower women in cybersecurity.