A break with the sexual roles at home and in schools where women are told that science or technology studies are for men, in addition to highlighting their successes and contributions to information and communication technology (ICT), it is imperative to increase the number of girls and young people. Interested in degrees related to these fields of knowledge.
In this, the Teaching Director of Information and Communication Technology, General Directorate of Computing and Information and Communication Technology (DGTIC) at UNAM, Maria Cristina Moskiz Fragoso, and the coordinator of the Bachelor of Data Science, of the Institute, coincides with this. For Research in Applied Mathematics and Systems (IIMAS), Maria del Pilar Angeles, on the occasion of International Girls in Information and Communication Technology Day, which is celebrated on April 26.
“Studies by companies like Microsoft reveal that there is a 40 percent greater chance for girls to study ICT-related careers when they have a female reference,” says Mquzquiz Fragoso.
Maria del Pilar Angelis explains that UNAM academics organize and share their capacity Coaches And judges in national and international events such as Technovation GirlsHigh school and college students learn skills and apply them to solve real problems using technology.
“There is more interest in technology and leadership after participating in it. About 58 percent of girls who enter this type of event enroll later in physical sciences, mathematics and engineering courses,” he confirms.
Girls in ICT Day was established in 2010 by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a body attached to the United Nations (UN), to create a global environment that empowers girls and youth and encourages them to think about the possibility of studying in the field of ICT.
According to the data of the International Telecommunication Union, the highest participation of women in the sector occurs in professional positions, where it represents 30%, while at administrative levels 15%; In strategic and planning areas, 11 percent.
College efforts
At the National University, it is estimated that female students have a physical, mathematical, and engineering degree around 30 percent, which is why career-stimulating events are promoted in these fields.
For example, Datatones have been organized where young people from high schools and bachelor’s degrees are invited. It also advises female professors and researchers Technovation GirlsWhich are carried out on a world class level as they put their technological skills to the test. There they create a project, which could be a mobile application related to health and environmental issues, among other things.
Technology is changing the world and they have to rely on it to create projects with social impact. This encourages girls a lot to use technology to create change, ”adds Maria Del Pilar Angeles, PhD in Computer Science.
It is necessary to highlight the role models for women in this field, because there are stereotypes through which girls and young women are told that math and science are not for them. “You have to highlight the models so they think, ‘If I can, I can too.’”
In this sense, there is still work to be done to further the study of the fields of physical and mathematical engineering; For example, in the first-generation Bachelor of Data Science, there were a total of 17 students of only three women.
Mquzquiz Fragoso, a mathematical science teacher, explains that over the next few years, eight of the top 10 highest paying jobs are expected to be technology-related, so it’s important that they get more and more involved in the ICT fields.
UNAM is making important efforts to advance these areas in baccalaureate and undergraduate degrees. Through DGTIC it offers scholarships for men and women to take courses related to computer security, communications, programming and websites. The web.
“We attract academies from internationally recognized companies like Huawei, Oracle, and Cisco that offer free and self-administered courses. In Huawei’s case, students get free certificates in basic or advanced courses on topics like Big data, 5G, Communication, Artificial Intelligence, storageAmong many other issues. ”
These courses are intended for high school students and all undergraduate degrees, since technology is a cross-section of the multiple fields of knowledge.
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