Mastercard is partnering with Northeastern University in Vancouver to accelerate cybersecurity innovation and expand Canada’s technology workforce.
Through $715,000 CAD, the collaboration will establish the Mastercard Professorship Fund and the Mastercard Vancouver Scholarship, initiatives designed to advance research and create opportunities for women, BIPOC students and underrepresented groups in cybersecurity over the next three years.
“Investing in pioneering research and diverse talent is essential to driving innovation that truly reflects and serves all Canadians,” said Mansur Mirani, Vice President, Global Intelligence and Cyber Centre of Excellence in Vancouver, Mastercard. “This partnership combines cutting-edge research with experiential learning, equipping the next generation of leaders to tackle the most critical challenges in cybersecurity and deliver solutions that make a real-world impact.”
The professorship will be designed to focus on cybersecurity research and engages 100 students in total over three years through industry internships, with half of them coming from underrepresented backgrounds. The partnership aims to combat bias in learning models and solutions developed by providing opportunities to those often underrepresented in cybersecurity fields.
“Northeastern University is dedicated to providing graduate-level education that is both experiential and research-focused,” said Steve Eccles, Regional CEO and Dean, Northeastern University in Vancouver. “This partnership with Mastercard will give our students an incredible opportunity to actively participate in groundbreaking research in one of the fastest growing sectors in Canada and produce graduates who will be able to hit the ground running in the cybersecurity industry.”
The tech sector in Vancouver continues to be a hub for research development of cybersecurity solutions in the growing digital economy. Through this investment, Mastercard is playing a leading role in maturing new talent in the region.
This partnership with Northeastern University in Vancouver builds on Mastercard’s commitment to Canada’s innovation and technology landscape, and it is an extension of its $510-million investment in the Global Intelligence and Cyber Centre of Excellence in Vancouver. Through these investments, Mastercard is bridging the gap between the academic and technology sectors, driving cybersecurity innovation, and ensuring Canada has a growing highly skilled workforce that will ensure it remains at the forefront of global innovation.