NextGen Girls in Technology initiative aims to increase women participation in emerging technology careers by introducing a techno-extracurricular program in schools to improve analytical, logical and creative thinking and Training university girls on-demand skills like IoT, Machine Learning, Cybersecurity and Design to bridge the skills mismatch and increase their employment opportunities.
NextGen GiT implements island-wide in schools involving girls, ICT teachers, university students, and professionals. Providing IoT learning kits and STEM educational resources to engage in learning and knowledge sharing
The Problem
Less than 20%. That’s the percentage of women who hold tech jobs at some of the biggest Internet companies in the world (Beheshti, 2019). These numbers reflect a global gender divide. In Sri Lanka, for instance, girls make up a little over 50% of the school population, but just 20% of those studying Information and Communications Technology (ICT). (Internet Society Foundation, 2020)Sri Lanka, fast becoming a hub for technology and innovation, offers a range of careers in technology fields. However, girls pursuing technology careers remain relatively low. Discussion with ICT teachers revealed that students think ICT as a difficult subject and Parents, Teachers are also not aware of the importance of ICT skills for future careers.
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