Successful rendezvous for the 2nd edition of the International Girls in ICT Day hosted by SD Worx in Ebene on Thursday, 25 April 2019. This initiative of the International Telecommunication Union, organized in Mauritius by the National Computer Board, the sector associations OTAM, MITIA and CCIFM through FINAM, and the company SD Worx, brought together over 110 participants.
Professionals and students come together for the International Girls in ICT Day
Young or senior professionals, students, schoolgirls, human resources managers, had the opportunity to exchange and share their experiences. They came out of it more reassured, comforted by being able to share their challenges and get advice.
The Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Human Resources and Scientific Research, Honourable Mrs. Leela-Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, guest of honour at the opening of the day, welcomed the heartening figures of the employment rate of women in the ICT sector which is close to 50%. As all areas are dependent on IT, she believes it is necessary to increase this figure. Actions are taken at the level of his Ministry to ensure the introduction of IT at all levels such as the Early Digital Learning Programme.
Ms. Joanne Esmyot, Executuve Director of NCB
Making digital technology accessible to all, young and old
Ms Joanne Esmyot, Executive Director of NCB said: “Co-organising the International Girls In ICT Day is in line with NCB’s mission of e-empowerment by making digital accessible to juniors, seniors, students and professionals. It is important for us to address the challenges of digital transformation in an inclusive manner in order to bring out talent, build skills in digital, a sector that is fast becoming the main pillar of the Mauritian economy.”
More women and girls in ICT
In addition to exchanging and valuing experiences, the participants had the opportunity to collectively reflect on proposals for action to encourage girls and women to choose STEM and ICT careers by seeking common synergies to improve the contribution of women in ICT.
Ms Catherine Dubreuil, President of FINAM
Catherine Dubreuil, President of FINAM, emphasizes that “the celebration of this day helps create an environment that encourages young girls and women to consider a career in the growing ICT sector, and to enable both girls and technology companies to reap the benefits of greater female participation in expressing their talents in digital.”
Initiatives for women in digital careers
In addition, different initiatives from companies were exposed to enable young girls to go into digital careers.
Like DigiGirlz, one of Microsoft’s flagship programs to invest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), in training girls and expanding the employment pool to meet the challenges of the global economy.
The Accenture Gender programme, a part of Inclusion & Diversity, enables the employment of more women through home working, flexitime, part-time work or inclusive training. Accenture Technology’s goal is to achieve a 50-50 workforce by 2025.
Promote gender equality in the workplace
Aero ECM World offers telecommuting, flexible working hours for people, as parents for example, depending on the day care center, nannies, adaptation to maternity leave and of course consider career development in the same way for men and women.
For SD Worx, as a specialist in Human Resources Outsourcing, the co-organisation of the International Girls In ICT Day is in line with our values, the main one being ‘INSPIRE’. Moreover, it meets our objective of promoting professional parity between men and women,” says Ashvin Pudaruth, Managing Director of SD Worx Mauritius.
The organizers would like to thank the partners and sponsors for their support of this event, namely Spoon Consulting, Aerow ECM World, Accenture Technology, Elca, Microsoft, Lithe Solutions, Business Lab, Expat.com and Focus Photography.
