Telefónica Tech Funds STEM Scholarships for Students Across Scotland

A growing skills gap is one of the most significant challenges facing the Scottish technology sector to date. That’s why Telefónica Tech is delighted to share the latest development in our partnership with ScotlandIS, aimed at transforming Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) education in Scotland.

Together, we’re committed to bridging the skills gap in the tech sector by supporting students in their pursuit of STEM careers. Therefore, for the second year running, Telefonica Tech UK&I is pleased to be sponsoring the ScotlandIS scholarship programme.

A Scholarship Program with a Purpose

The ScotlandIS and Telefónica Tech UK&I partnership focuses on a scholarship programme designed to help students achieve their National 5 and Higher Maths qualifications.

Delivered by The Education Academy Scotland, this initiative provides tutoring and support to ensure students succeed in their exams. The program has already shown impressive results, with a 100% pass rate and an average grade improvement of over two bands.

Furthermore, recognising the need to reach students outside of Glasgow and Edinburgh, ScotlandIS is launching a series of online masterclasses in maths and physics. These monthly sessions will provide 30 places for students in rural areas, ensuring that more young people have access to quality STEM education.

“We are proud to be partnering with ScotlandIS to fund the next round of scholarships. 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 these students across the country take their first step towards a career in STEM.” – Steven Brown, Global Director of Business Applications at Telefónica Tech

Call to Action for Businesses

By investing in programs like this, businesses can play a vital role in ensuring Scotland remains competitive in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

Karen Meechan, CEO of ScotlandIS, emphasizes the importance of practical action: “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.

“My sincere hope is that the ScotlandIS Scholarship ignites a spark of curiosity in each scholar, helping to pave the way towards a career in STEM, regardless of their background, location or demographic.”

Following completion, students of the scholarship programme will have the opportunity to fast-track into further education, with courses covering a range of topics, including cyber security, software engineering, esports, and computer game design.

Applications for the ScotlandIS Scholarships second cohort and online masterclasses are now open and can be found on the Education Academy Scotland website.

By directly investing in practical solutions that reach underprivileged youth, business collaboration is driving positive change in STEM education.

Our Commitment to Community

To find out more about how we partner with other local charities and communities to create lasting, positive impact, please take a look at our Social Responsibility page.

Steven Brown, Global Director of Business Applications

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.