On a mission to get more girls and women into computing
International Girls in ICT Day takes place on the fourth Thursday in April. This year, it will be celebrated on 24 April with the theme Expand horizons, Change attitudes. Lots of activity takes place across the world in the weeks around this day to promote the importance of attracting more girls and women into computing study and occupations.
Spotlight on women in computing
Ayrshire College is on a mission to challenge gender stereotypes in career and learning choices!
We take every opportunity to encourage females into male-dominated subjects and they don’t come much more male-dominated than computing! For example, each year we run a week-long campaign around Girls in ICT Day to promote and encourage women in and into computing. This year, throughout the week we heard from women who have forged a career in computing – in industry from Maggie Morrison, Caroline Stuart and Jean McInnes; and in education from Loraine Johnston and Lynsey O’Connor. Maggie, Caroline and Jean highlighted the variety of jobs they have had throughout their careers in computing and the many benefits they have experienced like travel, high salaries and flexibility. We also showcased women at the start of their careers in ICT – 19 year old apprentice Lisa Watson, as well as Ayrshire College mature students Jean Anderson and Carol Maguire, who talked about the life-changing possibilities offered by a career in ICT.
Ayrshire College is fully behind this initiative and for a flavour of how we are encouraging girls and women to expand their horizons click on https://ayrshirecollegeblog.wordpress.com/
