Expanding opportunities for women in cybersecurity

To address the shortage of cybersecurity workers in Canada who identify as women, the Cybersecurity Research Lab (CRL) at the Ted Rogers School of Management has partnered with the Information Communications Technology Council of Canada (ICTC) on a program to support female students interested in entering the field. 

The Cybersecurity Training and Work Integrated Learning (CTWIL) program (external link, opens in new window) , which launched as a pilot three years ago, provides women and non-binary post-secondary education students with access to Microsoft training and certification examinations, along with a 16-week paid work-integrated learning placement in the cybersecurity sector. It is a perfect opportunity for students to build their network, find mentors and get exposure to the field.

Dr. Atefeh Mashatan, Director of the CRL, helped to design the program in conjunction with ICTC to provide women a space to connect with others in the field, hear from industry professionals and show the multiple pathways available to them in a cybersecurity career. The program is funded by the Government of Canada's Student Work Placement Program and Microsoft.

“ICTC has developed a unique program with Microsoft to provide cybersecurity training and work-integrated learning to attract, train and retain specifically women and women-identified students to cybersecurity careers,” explains Dr. Mashatan. “Participants gain Microsoft certifications, mentorship from ICTC and on-the-job work experience from the employers so they can both make informed decisions about a career in cybersecurity and gain an edge in the job market.”

The program

In Phase 1 of the CTWIL program, the Ted Rogers School’s Business Technology Management (BTM) program was one of the only two invited to participate. An event was hosted at the school for the first phase in February 2023.  

To be eligible, students must be female or identify as female, and have completed their second year in a BTM program. The CTWIL program accepts 40 students each year. From start to finish with the certification modules, job readiness training and the work placement, the program can be completed in eight months. 

One cohort of Ted Rogers School students has already completed the program – known at the school as the Women in Cybersecurity program, another one will finish this summer, and the process is underway to select the third.

Zahra Adelzadeh, a Toronto Metropolitan University Gold Medal recipient, was one of the BTM students who was part of the inaugural cohort. “As a Business Technology Management student aspiring to explore tech and cybersecurity roles, I was thrilled to join the Women in Cybersecurity program,” she says. “The comprehensive training in Microsoft Azure and Security, Compliance, and Identity deepened my understanding of industry tools and systems.”

“My placement as a Systems Consultant at Long View Systems was transformative, providing hands-on experience and invaluable mentorship. Applying various frameworks through client interactions honed my skills and boosted my confidence,” Adelzadeh adds. “This rewarding experience has been instrumental in my growth, and I highly recommend the Women in Cybersecurity program to other women in STEM looking to establish themselves in the field.”

Since its launch, the CTWIL program has grown nationally with more universities joining the partnership, which now includes: British Columbia Institute of Technology, University of Calgary, Red River College Polytechnic, Toronto Metropolitan University, Dalhousie University, University of New Brunswick and New Brunswick Community College.