Inspiring the Next Generation: Girls in ICT Talks – an outstanding success!

• May 22, 2024
• Andrew

We are proud to announce that the pilot project “Girls in ICT Talks” has concluded with outstanding success. At the beginning of the scholastic year 2022/2023, the eSkills Malta Foundation teamed up with the Career Guidance at the National School Support Services (NSSS) of the Ministry of Education and the Department of Digital Literacy and Transversal Skills of the Church Secretariat. Together, six sessions of ICT career talks were organised specifically for girls.

It is very evident that there is a significant lack of female representation in the ICT sector. Consequently, the purpose of these talks was to encourage and inspire more girls to pursue careers in ICT. The sessions aimed to break down barriers, dispel myths, and provide girls with insights into the exciting opportunities available within the ICT industry. Girls in ICT is an initiative aimed at addressing the gender gap in the technology sector. Despite the growing demand for ICT professionals, women remain significantly underrepresented in this field. By promoting ICT careers to girls through educational programs, workshops, and mentorship, we can inspire the next generation of female tech leaders. Encouraging girls to pursue ICT not only empowers them with valuable skills but also brings diverse perspectives to the industry, fostering innovation and growth.

Six educational institutions both state and church schools participated in this initiative. The schools were Mater Boni Consilii School Paola, St. Margaret College Middle School Cospicua, St. Theresa College Middle School, Immaculate Conception School Tarxien and St. Albert the Great College Valletta. The presentations, which were skilfully given by eSkills Malta Foundation Women Ambassadors Loranne Avsar nee Zammit, Ana Rubio, Oriana Ebejer, Rianne Azzopardi, and Ediana Guillaumier, were attended by girls in Year 7. Every speaker discussed what sparked their interest in ICT and what opportunities it presents for girls to pursue careers in the field.

The feedback from schools was also very encouraging. They were eager to have their Year 7 female students participate in the sessions, demonstrating strong support and enthusiasm for the initiative. The educators were also appreciative of this initiative, as evidenced by the following message received from one of the teachers:

“The girls really liked it as it was tangible and based on the everyday things they can relate to; also, as mentioned at the end of the session, the topics discussed are part of next year’s syllabus, so it was a good intro, that will help them understand better the topics themselves”
The positive feedback received, coupled with the enthusiasm shown by the students, has strengthened the Foundation’s determination to continue working hard on promoting ICT among females, especially school children. The encouraging responses from both schools and educators highlight the impact and necessity of such initiatives. This affirmation motivates the Foundation to further develop and expand its efforts, ensuring that more girls are inspired and empowered to pursue careers in the ICT sector.

The Foundation intends to continue this collaboration with both state and church schools in the next scholastic year, aiming to reach even more female students. Building on the success of the pilot project, the Foundation is committed to expanding its efforts to inspire and empower a greater number of girls to consider careers in ICT. This ongoing partnership will help address the gender gap in the tech industry by providing more opportunities for young girls to explore and engage with the world of ICT.