ScotlandIS partners with Telefónica Tech for STEM scholarships

ScotlandIS has announced a partnership with Telefónica Tech UK&I to fund the next round of the ScotlandIS Scholarship, which supports students interested in STEM careers.

The funding will assist two cohorts of students in achieving their National 5 and Higher Maths qualifications. The programme will also include online masterclasses accessible remotely for those outside Glasgow and Edinburgh.

ScotlandIS is the membership and cluster management organisation for Scotland's digital technologies industry. It partners with various enterprises to address the sector's skills gap. The scholarship, now entering its second year, supports the development of young people's skills and potential in STEM fields.

The Education Academy Scotland, recognised as the country's premier tutoring school and an SQA-approved centre, will deliver the scholarship. This year, 12 new Glasgow and West Scotland scholars will receive support for their National 5 Maths qualifications. Continuing from the first year, scholars will also receive assistance to attain their Higher Maths qualification.

ScotlandIS will offer monthly online masterclasses in math and physics to reach students in more rural areas. Each session will have 30 places available. The initiative aims to extend educational opportunities beyond the major cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh.

ScotlandIS and The Education Academy Scotland reported a 100% pass rate from the 2024 cohort in their final exam, with improvement averaging two grade bands in National 5 Maths. Scholars who complete the programme can fast-track into further education at institutions such as Glasgow Clyde College, City of Glasgow College or West College Scotland, with cyber security and software engineering courses.

Karen Meechan, CEO of ScotlandIS, highlighted the importance of addressing the skills gap in the Scottish technology industry: "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."

Meechan emphasised the importance of practical actions to address this issue: "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."

Steven Brown, Global Director of Business Applications at Telefónica Tech, expressed pride in the partnership: "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."