An interactive session on a career in technology with high schools students in Sri Lanka
Challenge
IBM, on its latest endeavor of empowering women, is all set to train two lakh women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills across India.
Action
Signed agreements with several Indian states and expects more sign ups in future. Other initiatives include 2-year Advanced Diploma Programme in emerging tech, supporting math teachers with Teacher Advisor With Watson, and making TryScience resoruces available for teachers.
Results
Worked with the government to better equip the workforce with a new generation of skills, so that the positive impact of AI and other technology can be experienced in a larger scale
To give high school girls the opportunity to learn more about technology, connect with Microsoft employees, and participate in hands-on technology workshops.
Challenge
Action
Microsoft hosted a full day session for #DigiGirlz in Sri Lanka. The event was designed to provide girls, as well as educators, with a better picture of a career in technology through hands-on activities which required STEM skills.
Results
Microsoft inspired 500 girls, parents and teachers in Sri Lanka to embrace coding, STEM skills and #MakeWhatsNext.
Goal
Globally, women are underrepresented in STEM. According to UNESCO, 29 percent of those in science research and development are women, with a low of 19 percent in South and West Asia and a high of 48 percent in Central Asia. To celebrate International Women’s Day, Microsoft took a whole different approach by hosting a full day session for #DigiGirlz in Sri Lanka.
Action
The event comprised of career coaching sessions, panel discussions with an esteemed group of industry leaders, and last not but the least a coding project using Microsoft MakeCode for students. The main aim of the event was to to provide girls, as well as educators, with a better understanding of what careers in technology can be like—exposing girls to female role models, and engaging girls into hands-on activities where they use STEM skills to solve real-world challenges.
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Impact
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Over 500 girls, including their parents and teachers experienced this event. This career coaching workshop, arranged by the Microsoft Asia Pacific leadership, offered guidance to the girls on how to align their own passion with STEM. On the other hand, it also instilled a sense of problem-solving mentality into them by encouraging them to challenge themselves and break down any problems, goals into smaller actionable steps.
Takeaway
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When young students are exposed to a certain level of technology used in enterprises for business, it actually fills in the void that exists between academic output and industrial expectation. Furthermore, leveraging this kind of approach also helps prepare a future-proof talent pool capable of meeting the latest standards.