The pilot project “Girls in ICT Talks” has ended with exceptional success. At the beginning of the 2022/2023 academic year, the eSkills Malta Foundation joined the Career Guidance at the National School Support Services (NSSS) of the Ministry of Education and Digital Literacy and Transversal Skills of the Church Secretariat. Together, six talks on ICT careerS specifically for girls were organised.
There is a significant lack of female representation in the ICT sector. Consequently, the purpose of these talks was to encourage and inspire more girls to pursue ICT careers. The sessions aimed to reduce barriers, and provide girls with knowledge about the exciting opportunities available within the ICT industry. Girls in ICT Talks is an initiative aimed at addressing the gender gap in the technology sector Despite the growing demand for ICT professionals, women are significantly underrepresented in this area. By promoting ICT careers to girls through educational programs, workshops, and mentorship, we can inspire the next generation of women leaders in technology. Encouraging girls to follow ICT not only empowers them with valuable skills but also brings diverse perspectives to the industry, fostering innovation and growth.
Six educational institutions of both the state and the church participated in this initiative. The schools were Mater Boni Consilii Paola, St. Margaret College Middle School Bormla, St. Theresa College Middle School, Immaculate Conception School Tarxien and St. Albert the Great College Valletta. Loranne Avsar nee Zammit, Ana Rubio, Oriana Ebejer, Rianne Azzopardi, and Ediana Guillaumier attended girls at Year 7. Each speaker discussed their interest in ICT and what opportunities exist for girls to pursue careers in the field.
Feedback from schools was also very encouraging. They were eager to have their Year 7 female students participate in the sessions, and this shows strong support and enthusiasm for the initiative. Educators appreciated this initiative, as evidenced by this message received from one of the teachers:
“The students welcomed the presentation because it was tangible and based on the everyday things to which they might relate; also, as mentioned at the end of the session, the topics discussed are part of next year’s syllabus, so it was a good introduction, which will help them to better understand the topics themselves.”
The positive response, together with the students’ enthusiasm, reinforced the Foundation’s determination to continue working fully on promoting ICT among women, especially school children. Encouraging responses from both schools and educators highlights the impact and necessity of such initiatives. This affirmation motivates the Foundation to further develop and expand its efforts, while ensuring that more girls are inspired to pursue careers in the ICT sector.
The Foundation intends to continue this collaboration with both state schools and church schools in the next scholastic year, to reach even more female students. Building on the success of the pilot project, the Foundation is committed to expanding its efforts to inspire more girls to consider ICT careers. This ongoing partnership will help address the gender gap in the technology industry by providing more opportunities for young girls to explore and engage with the ICT world.
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