- ScotlandIS has partnered with leading technology provider Telefónica Tech UK&I to fund the next round of the ScotlandIS Scholarship.
- The funding will support two cohorts of students with an interest in pursuing STEM careers to secure their National 5 and Higher Maths qualifications.
- The scholarship will also be offering a series of online masterclasses for those outside Glasgow and Edinburgh to access remotely.
ScotlandIS, the membership and cluster management organisation for Scotland’s digital technologies industry, has partnered with Telefónica Tech UK&I to fund the second year of the ScotlandIS Scholarship. The programme is designed to help bridge the skills gap affecting the Scottish technology industry by empowering young people to explore career opportunities in STEM.
Delivered by The Education Academy Scotland, the country’s premier tutoring school and an SQA approved centre, the scholarship will see another 12 scholars from Glasgow and West Scotland receive support in attaining their National 5 Maths qualification. Additionally, scholars from the 2024 cohort will continue to be supported through their Higher Maths qualification following a successful first year.
In an attempt to reach young people outside Glasgow and Edinburgh, ScotlandIS will also be launching a new series of online masterclasses in maths and physics. The masterclasses will run monthly, with 30 places available for students living in more rural parts of Scotland.
Following exam results in August 2024, ScotlandIS and The Education Academy Scotland reported a 100% pass rate on the final exam, noting all scholars across the cohort improved their grade in National 5 Maths with an average upturn of over two grade bands.
As was the case last year, ScotlandIS Scholars who complete the programme will have the opportunity to be fast tracked into further education and will be offered a place on a relevant course at either Glasgow Clyde College, City of Glasgow College or West College Scotland. Courses accessible through the scholarship include NCs, NQs and HNDs in a variety of topics ranging from cyber security and software engineering to esports and computer game design.
ScotlandIS CEO, Karen Meechan, said: “A growing skills gap is one of the most significant challenges facing the Scottish technology industry today. It is one of the biggest factors restricting growth in the sector and, as international competition continues to increase, Scotland faces the prospect of being left behind in the pursuit of growth. With technology developing so rapidly, we simply cannot afford to fall behind at this crucial stage.”
“All too often, solving this issue is spoken about in purely theoretical terms but, the truth is, direct and practical action is vital. By engaging children early enough in their education we can help cultivate and inspire the next generation of Scottish tech talent. I hope other businesses will see the impact of these initiatives and feel encouraged to invest in similar programmes.”
“My sincere hope is that the ScotlandIS Scholarship ignites a spark of curiosity in each scholar, helping to pave the way towards a career in STEM, regardless of their background, location or demographic.”
Steven Brown, Global Director of Business Applications at Telefónica Tech, said: “We are proud to be partnering with ScotlandIS to fund the next round of its scholarship. Education has always been a key focus for us and initiatives like this are essential to building the foundation to a more inclusive and innovative future for Scottish tech.”
“There’s a huge demand for young people to enter the sector, but reaching them is the challenge, particularly for those in more remote areas with less access to opportunities like this. This scholarship will be pivotal to helping students across the country take their first step towards a career in STEM. We look forward to seeing the positive impact it has on them and the industry as a whole”, he added.
Applications for the ScotlandIS Scholarships second cohort and online masterclasses are now open and can be found here: