Women earn 57% of all U.S. undergraduate degrees but only 18% of undergraduate computer and information sciences degrees, according to the National Center for Women in Technology. Yet according to U.S. Department of Labor estimates, more than 1.4 million computing-related job openings will exist by 2020, with only enough computer degree graduates to fill 30% of them.
And globally, women comprise less than a third of workers in the computer science, engineering, and physics fields in some of the world’s key emerging economies, according to a report by Women in Global Science & Technology.
Attracting more girls and women to the technology field benefits women, their families, their communities, and the businesses they work for. Women are powerful catalysts for change in any society: When women are able to earn an income, they typically reinvest 90 percent of it back into their families and communities.
To help tap this valuable talent pool and attract more women to careers in the information and communications technology (ICT) field, Cisco is participating in Girls in ICT Day – an international event organized by the by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, Cisco offices will hold Girls in ICT Day events, joining the global effort to encourage girls and young women to consider careers in the growing ICT field.
The events target girls age 13 to 18 and will include office visits, tours, and presentations by Cisco female employees who will discuss career opportunities and life in the technology field. Students will be able to engage with Cisco technologies, including collaboration platforms such as Cisco TelePresence® and Cisco Jabber®. These platforms will enable interaction with other girls participating across the globe and with leading women working within Cisco and its partners and customers.
Most Cisco events will take place on April 24, but many have already begun: For example, on March 27, 34 girls from 8 schools visited Cisco offices in Berlin, Germany. Tomorrow, April 8, 18 Cisco offices in 18 countries, including Egypt, Italy, South Africa, Pakistan, and the U.K., will welcome hundreds more girls.
Thus is a great idea done by Cisco, but Why Jordan is not included in this event?!
Hi Reem, thanks for commenting. We do have an event in Jordan, in Amman on April 8. We’re holding events in more than 30 countries! : )
Oh ok…seems not for TAC 🙂
Love this!
Cisco should bring this thought for south Asian country India,Nepal,Bangladesh.Bangladesh,Myanmar.
Hi Kisholoy, thanks for commenting.
Cisco is actually holding about 70 events around the world for Girls in ICT Day. This includes our offices in India, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
If you haven’t already, please like our Facebook page — we will be posting updates and photos from our various activities there!
https://www.facebook.com/CiscoCSR
I am impressed with what CISCO is doing re computer technology with women. Please keep on carrying the good work.
So great to see such a comprehensive commitment from Cisco! The ICT world will only be enriched by incorporating more young women.