As cyberattacks grow more sophisticated, the disciplines used to investigate them and the skills used to defend against them are converging. Digital forensics and cybersecurity increasingly draw on the same analytical mindset - and the professionals who understand both are in high demand.
To help build that talent, OPSWAT Academy continues to expand its Scholarship Program, partnering with institutions worldwide to prepare the next generation of cyber defenders.
As part of this ongoing initiative, OPSWAT Academy today announced a new scholarship partnership with the Department of Forensic Science at JECRC University, Jaipur, under the OPSWAT Academy Scholarship Program. The one-year collaboration is focused on raising cybersecurity awareness among students and upskilling them with the hands-on, industry-aligned capabilities needed to protect critical digital environments.
What makes this partnership distinctive is where it sits. Forensic science students are already trained to investigate, analyze evidence, and think methodically under pressure - the same instincts that define strong cybersecurity practitioners.
By bringing OPSWAT Academy's training into a forensic science program, the collaboration helps students connect investigative rigor with practical cyber defense, opening a natural pathway into fast-growing fields such as digital forensics, incident response, and threat analysis.
Through this partnership, eligible JECRC University students will gain access to OPSWAT Academy's globally recognized cybersecurity training and certification pathways. The program emphasizes practical, industry-relevant skills centered on Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP), giving learners direct exposure to the tools, frameworks, and threat scenarios they will encounter in real-world security roles.
Courses offered through the scholarship are also eligible for ISC2 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credit submission, allowing participants to build globally recognized credentials while strengthening the hands-on expertise required to defend critical infrastructure and digital systems.
The partnership reinforces JECRC University's commitment to research-driven, industry-aligned education. By integrating cybersecurity training into the forensic science curriculum, the collaboration enhances technical readiness, security awareness, and workforce preparedness - while creating opportunities for experiential learning that bridges the gap between academic study and real-world cyber defense.
Ms. Vaishnavi Thakre
Head & Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Science, JECRC UNIVERSITY
Cybersecurity today reaches into every discipline - including forensic science, where investigative rigor and digital defense increasingly overlap. Partnering with JECRC University lets us put practical, critical infrastructure-focused training directly into the hands of students who are already learning to think like investigators. That blend of analytical skill and hands-on security expertise is exactly what the industry needs, and it is why partnerships like this matter so much to us.
Irfan Shakeel
VP of Training and Certification Services, OPSWAT
The Scholarship Program is part of a global training community that has grown to more than 456,000 registered students and over 268,000 certified professionals worldwide. Through partnerships with universities and institutions across the globe, the program continues to widen access to hands-on cybersecurity training aligned to protecting critical infrastructure. OPSWAT Academy welcomes educational partners to join the program and help amplify its impact on the global cybersecurity workforce.
JECRC University, Jaipur, is a private, research-oriented university in Rajasthan, India, established in 2012 and run by the JECRC Foundation, which brings more than 27 years of experience in education. Home to over 26,000 active students drawn from 29 states and a global alumni network of more than 34,000, the university offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs across schools including Engineering & Technology, Computer Applications, Sciences, Law, Design, and Allied Health Sciences. JECRC University is recognized as one of only six Group-1 Centres selected by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the GENESIS Scheme, and maintains active industry collaborations with leading technology and consulting organizations to keep its curriculum aligned with real-world demand.
OPSWAT Academy is a global cybersecurity training platform specializing in Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP). Built on OPSWAT's two decades of experience protecting global organizations, OPSWAT Academy translates real-world expertise into practical, hands-on training courses and industry-recognized certification pathways. Through immersive learning and programs eligible for ISC2 CPE credit submission, OPSWAT Academy equips learners worldwide with the skills needed to secure critical infrastructure and digital environments.
The partnership reinforces JECRC University's commitment to research-driven, industry-aligned education. By integrating cybersecurity training into the forensic science curriculum, the collaboration enhances technical readiness, security awareness, and workforce preparedness - while creating opportunities for experiential learning that bridges the gap between academic study and real-world cyber defense.
