On Friday October 28th 2022 Microsoft will host DigiGirlz Day, their annual tech seminar aimed at educating and empowering secondary school girls in the Caribbean by giving them the opportunity to learn about careers in technology, connect with Microsoft employees, and participate in hands-on computer and technology workshops via the Microsoft Teams platform.
The World Economic Forum estimates that by 2030, 77% of jobs will require technology skills. While there is a growing and unsatisfied demand in the STEM world, added to a great deficit of women in these areas. In the world only 35% of STEM students in higher education are women, according to the UNESCO report. In the software industry, female representation does not usually exceed 10%.
In that way, DigiGirlz aims to bridge the gender gap in technology by introducing young women to the vast world of technology through keynotes, lectures and participatory workshops such as coding and app building. By educating young women, Microsoft seeks to inspire them to consider a career in technology. More than 65,000 students have attended the Microsoft DigiGirlz Technology Programs (both camps and one-day events) since they began in 2000.
Regarding the importance of DigiGirlz, Microsoft Caribbean Edu Lead, Carla Lopez, stated “Gender inclusion is important to Microsoft since there is still a significant gender disparity in the workplace. We hope to educate, motivate, and grow the number of women working in technology through DigiGirlz. By imparting this information to girls and teenagers, we are expanding their horizons professionally and fostering the emergence of a whole new generation of technological experts.”
DigiGirlz Day is a free, one-day program, available to all secondary school girls in T&T. The virtual event will educate participants about trends and opportunities in the diverse field of technology and will include Q&A with seasoned pros, and an exploration of some of the hottest new tech out today. The Web event is geared towards igniting their curiosity, unleashing their imagination, developing their technological skills, learning, having fun and above all, helping them see all that they are capable of.
Interested participants can register for DigiGirlz here.
