Empowering Women in ICT: Bridging the Gender Gap and Inspiring the Next Generation

• November 26, 2024
• Andrew

The need for digital skills is becoming increasingly critical across European countries. Currently, a staggering 87% of all jobs require basic digital skills, while 48% demand the use of specialised, sector-specific software. Additionally, 18% of jobs require database management, 13% involve the development and maintenance of IT systems, hardware, and software, and 7% require computer programming or coding expertise. To address these demands, the Digital Decade targets aim to equip at least 80% of Europeans with basic digital skills by 2030, up from 54% today. Without further action, this figure is projected to rise only to 59% by 2030. Furthermore, the Digital Decade aims to increase the number of ICT specialists to 20 million by 2030, up from 9.4 million in 2022.

The growing demand for digital skills underscores the urgent need to address the underrepresentation of women in the tech sector. In 2019, Malta joined 26 other countries in signing the Women in Digital Declaration, committing to advancing women’s roles in technology and digital industries. A key player in this effort is the eSkills Malta Foundation, which is dedicated to boosting female participation in ICT by fostering interest in technology careers. Women have long been underrepresented in ICT, particularly in fields like computer science and engineering, and this gender gap persists across Europe. As the demand for tech professionals continues to rise, building a diverse workforce has become crucial for driving innovation and ensuring a more equitable future.

As part of its commitment, the eSkills Malta Foundation has launched several initiatives this year to empower women and girls, with a particular focus on promoting women in ICT. As a key member of the Code4Europe Consortium, a collaborative network of over 40 educational and digital industry organisations from 20 European countries, the eSkills Malta Foundation is contributing to the advancement of gender equality in the tech sector. The eSkills Malta Foundation is the Hub for EU CodeWeek, for which JA Europe was awarded the responsibility to run for two years starting from July 1st, 2024. Through these efforts, the eSkills Malta Foundation is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of tech leaders, with an emphasis on encouraging girls to explore coding and ICT careers.

As part of these initiatives, the Foundation has invested in weekly social media campaigns highlighting women in ICT and resharing relevant guidelines and resources. In addition, the “Girls in ICT Talks” held in schools earlier this year aimed to inspire young girls to pursue careers in technology by exposing them to accomplished women who shared their experiences.

Another major highlight was International Girls in ICT Day, celebrated on April 25, 2024, in collaboration with Microsoft. The event in Malta struck a balance between empowering talks from accomplished women and hands-on coding and robotics sessions, which the girls found particularly exciting and engaging. Throughout the year, numerous bootcamps and events were organised, many of which were free to the public. Five of these bootcamps were specifically designed to benefit women and provide them with the tools they need to succeed in ICT.
At the launch of EU CodeWeek in Malta on October 10th, a panel discussion titled Increasing the Number of ICT Specialists, Especially Women was held. This discussion underscored the importance of creating spaces for conversations that foster greater participation of women in the tech industry.

In addition to organising events, the eSkills Malta Foundation runs awareness campaigns aimed at challenging stereotypes and changing societal attitudes about women in technology. By highlighting successful female role models and advocating for greater representation of women in leadership positions, the Foundation strives to inspire the next generation of women leaders in ICT. Recognising the need for continuous skill development, the Foundation also offers upskilling programs for adult women, helping them build and expand their digital skills.
A cornerstone of the eSkills Malta Foundation’s work is the Women in ICT Focus Group, dedicated to encouraging more women and girls to pursue careers in ICT and STEM fields. Historically, these sectors have seen low female participation. Through a combination of advocacy, mentorship, and collaboration, the Focus Group is working to break down barriers and provide women with the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.

At the most recent Women in ICT Focus Group meeting held on 20th November 2024, several new initiatives were outlined to further boost female participation in the sector. These included awareness sessions for parents and mentors to help them understand the wide array of career opportunities within ICT. These sessions address the misconception that careers in technology are limited to programming or engineering, aiming to broaden perspectives and encourage young women to explore other ICT roles such as data science, cybersecurity, digital marketing, and IT management. The group also discussed plans for International Girls in ICT Day 2025, with the goal of inspiring even more girls to pursue careers in technology by showcasing the diverse opportunities within the sector.

An important milestone for the group has been the creation of the Guidelines to Increase and Retain Women in ICT. These guidelines provide practical recommendations for businesses, educators, NGOs, gender equity advocates, the media, and policymakers, with the aim of creating a more inclusive ICT industry. By engaging all relevant stakeholders, the guidelines offer a framework for fostering gender equality in the tech sector in Malta and beyond.

Through these initiatives, the eSkills Malta Foundation is making significant strides towards a more inclusive digital economy. By providing women and girls with the opportunities, skills, and support they need to thrive in technology careers, the Foundation is helping create a more diverse and equitable future for the ICT sector.