eSentire has awarded its fifth annual Sean Hennessy Bursary to Munster Technological University student Bartosz Lipinski.
Run in partnership with the university's Department of Computer Science, the bursary includes financial support and a structured internship at eSentire's international headquarters and Security Operations Centre in Cork. Lipinski, who is studying for a BSc (Hons) in IT Management and Cybersecurity at MTU, will work with the company's global security operations teams.
The programme is designed to support students entering cybersecurity at a time when employers across Europe continue to report difficulties finding and retaining skilled staff. ENISA data cited by eSentire puts the gap between candidates and available cybersecurity roles in the EU at 299,000.
Skills Gap
Now in its fifth year, the bursary has become part of a broader effort by employers and universities to build a pipeline of early-career cybersecurity talent. The four previous recipients all went on to gain full-time experience in eSentire's security operations centre. Two now work as full-time Tier II SOC Analysts in its global team, one works part time while completing final-year studies at MTU, and one will join as an intern for part of 2026.
That record reflects a wider market problem. In ENISA's 2025 NIS Investments research report, 76 per cent of European organisations said they faced difficulties attracting cybersecurity professionals, while 71 per cent reported problems with retention.
Other industry surveys point in the same direction. ISC2's 2025 Cybersecurity Workforce Report found that 59 per cent of companies had critical or significant skills needs in 2025, up from 44 per cent a year earlier. It also found younger workers were more likely to enter cybersecurity through formal education: 23 per cent of respondents aged 21 to 29 said education had been their route into the field, compared with 13 per cent of those aged 30 to 44 and 6 per cent of those aged 45 to 59.
In Ireland, Cyber Ireland's 2025 Pulse Survey found talent, recruitment and upskilling were among the main business concerns for 48 per cent of companies surveyed. The World Economic Forum's Global Cybersecurity Outlook for 2026 also ranked access to cyber skills and talent among the top three issues affecting resilience planning, with 45 per cent of companies saying skills shortages hindered those efforts.
University Link
MTU's IT Management and Cybersecurity course is built around five areas: cybersecurity, networking, cloud computing technologies, automation and IT management. According to the university, industry input is central to keeping those programmes up to date as threats, regulation and operational requirements change.
"The Sean Hennessy Bursary represents something that has been part of eSentire's culture since our very first days in Cork. Our approach is based on developing people with long-term career pathways, opening the door for more people to succeed in cybersecurity. As we have expanded our international operations and our SOC team, this bursary remains one of the most meaningful ways we can honour our colleague Sean's legacy and invest in the next generation of security professionals. This is a crucial element in our model of recruiting, training, and retaining top cybersecurity talent that can respond to attacks on behalf of our customers," said Ciaran Luttrell, Vice President of Global Security Operations at eSentire.
Sean Hennessy played a key role in establishing the company's Cork operations, and the bursary was created in his name to recognise academic achievement and give students practical industry experience. It combines a financial award with paid work placement in the company's security operations environment.
Lipinski said the connection between study and workplace experience was a major part of the award's value.
"Getting this award is a great first step for me in my career. Knowing that I will have the opportunity to work in a real-world environment and put what I have learned so far into practice is something that is incredibly valuable when you are right at the start of your profession. I've spoken to the other winners of this bursary, who all still work at eSentire, and their experience over the past few years made it clear how useful this bursary was for them as well," said Bartosz Lipinski, the 2026 Sean Hennessy Bursary recipient.
For MTU, the scheme is part of a wider model that links course design to employer demand. The university said cybersecurity teaching now needs to balance core technical knowledge with practical decision-making and the ability to adapt to AI-driven changes in both attacks and defences.
"Industry collaboration is critical to all of the programmes and modules at MTU. Cybersecurity is a rapidly evolving field, and sustained engagement with industry ensures our students remain aligned with current developments, emerging risks, and shifting regulatory and operational requirements. Working with eSentire on how our students learn and gain experience is a vital element in that process and this collaboration is essential to stay at the cutting edge of technology and security. Our leadership team works with eSentire and other companies to continually refresh and update our curriculum so our students can meet the demands for skills that companies have. Our approach prepares students for life-long learning and a framework to succeed in their careers, so they are 'Workplace Ready' right from the start," said Dr George O'Mahony, Head of Department of Computer Science at Munster Technological University.
Luttrell also linked the bursary to the wider challenge employers face in creating career paths that encourage people to stay in the sector.
"Working to achieve overall career development starts with who you hire, what kind of career path you develop for them, and how you make them want to stay with your organisation. Signposting how you can develop and learn in your current environment is a necessary investment. It's an area that our bursary feeds into, but it can't stop at that point. With the advent of AI for SOC teams, getting the right framework in place is essential to make your staff feel valued as well as productive," he said.
O'Mahony said MTU combines strong theoretical foundations with practical, hands-on skills so students understand not just what to do, but why it matters.
"As AI transforms cybersecurity, we emphasise critical thinking, problem solving, and the ability to reason in uncertainty. Without that ability to learn, to anticipate problems and respond to the evolving cybersecurity landscape, students and early career IT professionals can find themselves not able to adapt. We recognise that cybersecurity is not a one-time qualification but a lifelong learning journey. Professionals must continuously update their knowledge to respond to emerging threats, regulatory change, and rapid advances in areas such as AI-driven attack and defence techniques. MTU provides flexible, university-accredited short courses and micro-credentials, designed in close collaboration with industry, to support continuous upskilling. By focusing on strong fundamentals, adaptability, and continuous professional development, MTU prepares students and practitioners not just to react to the latest trend, but to lead in an AI-enabled future," he said.