The recent partnership with Columbia University is one example of SAP’s initiatives to provide resources and technical expertise to support the advancement of the next generation technology leaders.
As a truly global company with employees from over 150 nationalities, SAP believes that embracing a culture of diversity and inclusion in the workplace is critical to the organisation’s success. Regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental ability, and work-life situations, the German enterprise ensures that all employees experience an inclusive employee lifecycle to enable them to succeed, hold leaders accountable, and build a diverse ecosystem.
SAP’s commitment to being one of the most diverse and inclusive software companies in the world extends to the partnerships it seals with organisations that share their goals, including those in the education sector. Recently, SAP has partnered with Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs in pursuit of identifying and developing more diverse talent in the cybersecurity sector. SAP has committed to providing increased funding and a variety of internships, job opportunities, curriculum assistance, and events at the university while nurturing the spirit of inclusivity and diversity.
Empowering the Next Generation Technology Leaders
SAP’s Chief Security Officer Tim McKnight explained the critical role of the software industry in shaping new ways of securing valuable data while delivering digital transformation to enterprises. SAP’s collaboration with Columbia University addresses the growing demand for cybersecurity talent to protect organisations from the increasing growth of cyber threats. He said that the synergistic partnership empowers both the tech giant and the university’s prospective candidates– fostering diversity of talent while securing the safety of SAP’s products and customers and offering a springboard to students and recent graduates for a career in the tech space.
SAP’s funding will substantially bring in a broader group of individuals interested in cybersecurity according to Jason Healey, cyber threat intelligence expert and senior research scholar at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He explained:
“Due to SAP’s funding, we’re already finding new opportunities to reach out to our diverse student body to let them know about the amazing job prospects in cybersecurity, even for those outside of STEM. The events, projects, information and first-hand experience our students will have access to will be extremely valuable for their career development.”
“Capstone workshops” will also be provided by SAP, which will allow students to participate in real-life projects and work with external customers.
Fostering Diversity and Inclusion
Amidst the growth in demand for cybersecurity talent, a significant gender disparity in the industry is still evident as shared by SAP’s Chief Trust Officer Elena Kvochko with ZDNet. Nevertheless, she sees the program as a silver lining that would further diversity in the industry and offer a space for new ideas, skills, and creativity in finding solutions related to security challenges. She said:
“The goal is to immerse students in the cybersecurity world and give them the opportunity to explore this fast-growing field. The capstone projects will be designed and developed around the most pressing needs of the cybersecurity sector, so that students, graduates and SAP employees have exposure to diverse perspectives from around the world.”
“SAP is excited to have the first group of recent graduates joining us this summer. We are prepared to lead groups of students of different sizes in their cybersecurity journey while helping to close the diversity gaps in our field and ensure diversity of perspectives,” Kvochko highlighted.
Closer to home, SAP’s recent feature on the success story of Blake Garrett, CEO of Sydney-based School Bytes, is another example of the software enterprise’s efforts in driving innovation, diversity, and inclusion in the education sector. Garett’s winning project–a solution to automate paper-based front office processes– in the 2015 Young ICT Explorers (YICTE) competition back when he was in Year 12 at Chatswood High School has now become a cloud-based company that streamlines daily administrative tasks for 440 educational institutions in Australia.
YICTE was launched by SAP in partnership with CSIRO, universities, other corporate sponsors, and Australia’s largest independent children’s education charity The Smith Family to support the next generation technology leaders of Australia and New Zealand.
“For children who might not have Internet access or computers, the YICTE Accelerator program is a wonderful chance for them to develop digital skills, showcasing their initiative and innovation. I’ve talked with many children who’ve participated, and they are committed to their own achievement so they can give back and change the experience of others in their communities,” said Judy Barraclough, acting CEO at The Smith Family.
