Students who want to get into a field of study that is growing 12 times faster than the current U.S. job market -- IT/cybersecurity -- can now apply for a scholarship from The University of the Aftermarket Foundation (UAF).
Applications for scholarships for this new field of study are available on the newly redesigned Automotive Aftermarket Scholarships Central website at www.automotivescholarships.com.
“Demand for IT and cybersecurity professionals is growing in the automotive aftermarket industry as companies large and small need to protect their financial information and intellectual property, among other critical tasks,” says Bob Egan, MAAP, UAF chairman.
Cybersecurity Ventures reports the hyper demand for cybersecurity experts, and the U.S. Department of Commerce estimates there will be as many as 3.5 million unfilled positions by 2021.
“Applicants can now simply click on the IT/Cybersecurity drop down on the scholarship application to indicate this as their planned course of study to qualify for the scholarships in this new field of study,” says Danielle Sonnefeld, co-chair of the UAF scholarship committee. “By adding this new scholarship opportunity, UAF is responding to the alarming trend where the number and complexity of cyberattacks continue to threaten businesses, including those in the aftermarket.”
According to the 2020 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, in order to alleviate the skills shortage in the cybersecurity profession, recruitment needs to grow by 42% in the United States.
Steve Smith, CEO, GCommerce Inc., a new UAF lifetime trustee and a leader in the information technology field, concurrs, “We applaud the University of the Aftermarket Foundation for taking this step to help address the need for automotive cybersecurity professionals. By incorporating this new scholarship opportunity into the Automotive Aftermarket Scholarship Central website, they will help interested students pursue careers in this growing aftermarket field.”
Applicants may specify IT/cybersecurity at www.AutomotiveScholarships.com.
For more information, visit www.UofA-Foundation.org.
