Durrant Pate/Contributor

Jamaica’s Elizabeth Sloane Institute of Technology is making unprecedent investments in upskilling ICT professionals, who identify as a member of the black diaspora. 

Having announced US$14.6 million in grants and scholarships for upskilling cybersecurity professionals in Africa and the Caribbean last year this year, the institute has approved scholarships valuing over US$4.6 million for upskilling persons, who identify as a member of the black diaspora across the globe. 

Last year, the Elizabeth Sloane Institute of Technology awarded over 620 scholarships to upskill in cybersecurity across English-speaking Africa and the Caribbean but has opened up this year scholarships and grants to global applicants. This unprecedented investment seeks to address the global skills shortage in AI, cybersecurity and data science, while also creating new opportunities for ICT professionals in the black diaspora.

Empowering black ICT professionals 

“This programme will not only bolster the world’s defences against cybercrime but also empower black ICT professionals to thrive in a high-growth industry that desperately needs their talent,” declared Melanie Wynter, director of Elizabeth Sloane.

The programme will provide four distinct funding opportunities to eligible applicants, covering over 70 per cent of the costs of industry-recognized (ISC)² cybersecurity certifications such as CISSP, CCSP, and SSCP over a 12-month period and Online Self- Paced STEM Master’s Degree. These awards include the Kusi P. Adu-Amankwah “Lex Stella” award, the Lauryn C. Poyser award, the Homegrown Alliance award, and the C. Courtney Jackson award.

The application process is simple and open to the public with a submission deadline of May 15.

This initiative comes at a critical time, as cybercrime is predicted to cost the world US$6 trillion annually by 2023, while the global cybersecurity workforce shortage is expected to reach 3.5 million unfilled roles. 

“Supporting the upskilling of black ICT professionals is crucial, as we see firsthand the negative impact of the skills gap while serving clients across Africa and the Caribbean,” explained Gawayne Beckford, member of the Elizabeth Sloane Institute of Technology academic council.