There are 94 percent of women in the Middle East would be interested in pursuing a degree in cybersecurity, a new study by the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF) said.
The study was conducted among respondents across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Americas and Sub-Saharan Africa regions.
The study, which targeted female undergraduate students studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) across six regions and 26 countries, expanded on the potential challenges women face whilst entering STEM studies.
In terms of long-term career prospects in cybersecurity, 88 percent of women in the MENA region “are aware of cybersecurity programs offered in their institution,” recording the highest rate of awareness compared to other regions.
The report called for further efforts to empower female workforce as 57 percent of organisations report unfilled cybersecurity positions.
“With the right encouragement from a young age, women can not only begin to enter the industry, but can also become leaders in their field. By bringing together the leading voices and minds of the cyberspace at the GCF, we are confident that we can bridge this gap and action impactful change for women in cybersecurity,” GCF initiatives and partnerships lead Alaa AlFaadhel said.
The report, in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), showed 70 percent of those surveyed stated a key driver for them choosing a degree in IT security was “due to a role model encouraging them to enter the field and learn more about the industry.”
Closing the gender gap in cybersecurity would “fulfill an urgent demand in the field that is only going to get bigger,” BCG’s managing director and senior partner Leila Hoteit said.
Hoteit added due to the current pace, it would take as long as 130 years to achieve gender parity in the industry.
“The escalation in cybersecurity threats and their economic impact make it imperative that urgent action is taken to address this mismatch,” she said.
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