Ten years in the past, Cisco Networking Academy launched the Girls Rock-IT initiative within the APJC area to assist tackle the gender imbalance within the tech business.
This system was designed to point out younger girls that there’s a future for them in tech, with actions together with Be taught-A-Thons, volunteer occasions, and stay digital broadcasts that includes distinguished girls in IT who might function inspiring role-models for Girls Rock-IT individuals. Throughout this time, Girls Rock-IT has hosted 82 broadcast occasions with 141 audio system, seen by over 2 million viewers, leading to 868,481 course registrations.
Present LinkedIn information suggests girls compromise simply 29.2% of all Science Know-how Engineering Math (STEM) employees. As a result of this underrepresentation of girls within the STEM workforce at present reinforces an underrepresentation sooner or later, it’s important we tackle this situation.
At Cisco our company objective is to energy an inclusive future for all, and addressing a gender imbalance in STEM is an integral a part of that.
Attracting girls to tech
I’m thrilled to report that efforts like Girls Rock-IT are paying off. Over the previous ten years, we’ve elevated the presence of girls and ladies in Cisco Networking Academy programs from 20 p.c to 27 p.c, globally. Clearly, we have now additional to go, however a 35 p.c improve in participation of girls in this system is a big achievement that speaks volumes about our collective dedication.
Huge points
Yearly because the inception of Girls Rock-IT in 2013, girls on the slicing fringe of technological innovation discuss their expertise within the discipline. Individuals acquire helpful insights about how girls can thrive in what remains to be too regularly seen as a male area.
From its first regional APJC speaker Monica Morrow who, on the time, was the area’s Chief Technical Officer and spoke about having a seat on the desk, to final 12 months’s inspiring international panel broadcasting on efficiently making use of know-how to local weather tech challenges, Girls Rock-IT individuals get to listen to from those that have cast significant careers in tech, addressing urgent problems with the day.
Women in ICT Day: a marquee Girls Rock-IT occasion
The annual marquee occasion of Girls Rock-IT aligns with Worldwide Women in ICT Day. This 12 months, the Girls Rock-IT program addressed Synthetic Intelligence (AI), which has the potential to vary all the things, together with its inherent moral challenges.
AI is ready to vary the world, and tomorrow’s IT workforce must be AI-literate. In our Q2 FY24 Cisco Networking Academy Scholar End result Survey of 1,400 college students, 63 p.c of Cisco Networking Academy college students inform us they’re utilizing AI at present and 17 p.c have already got superior abilities on this space.
We’re proud our college students are at the forefront of know-how studying. The truth is, 88 p.c of our college students imagine Cisco Networking Academy is on the forefront of this quickly evolving tech world.
Our current Cisco Networking Academy scholar survey reveals that 53 p.c of males are already harnessing AI at work, in comparison with simply 44 p.c of females, however that extra girls than males are looking forward to AI training.
Women in ICT Actions
This 12 months’s Women in ICT Day on April 25 impacted 36,025 college students reached by way of the stay broadcast, International Be taught-A-Thon, and Cisco worker volunteer occasions, with 1.23 million attain on social media channels.
Congratulations to the Girls Rock-IT staff and Cisco volunteers for orchestrating a very impactful Women in ICT Day occasion. It was an inspiring showcase that highlighted our dedication to fostering variety within the tech business.
Inspiring audio system
For our stay broadcast, main girls in AI shared their expertise within the discipline.
Dr. Tanya Berger-Wolf mentioned her work as a computational ecologist working on the distinctive intersection of pc science, wildlife biology, and social sciences. Tanya is Director of the Translational Knowledge Analytics Institute and Professor of Pc Science Engineering, Electrical and Pc Engineering, in addition to Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology on the Ohio State College.
Dr. Elizabeth Bondi-Kelly, Assistant Professor on the College of Michigan explored the impression of AI on society. She mentioned moral issues of AI and advocates for accountable AI growth to mitigate dangers and guarantee helpful outcomes for all.
International Be taught-A-Thon
This 12 months, the International Be taught-A-Thon noticed college students team-up to take introductory programs in Knowledge Science or Cybersecurity, with a digital badge awarded to these reaching 70 p.c or extra on their examination and a Cisco Be taught-A-Thon expertise digital badge.
“I’m actually impressed by Girls Rock-IT,” says attendee Thendeka Zesuliwe Zikode from rural Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. “My want is to check extra and get full assist in know-how and AI, in order that I may help different ladies round my ’hood.”
Cisco occasions
Over 230 Cisco volunteers organized occasions in Cisco places of work and faculties worldwide this 12 months. Attendees have been capable of meet girls working for Cisco and speak to them about their expertise in tech.
Become involved
Lastly, I’d wish to take this chance to thank all of the Cisco staff, Academy companions and instructors, and our audio system for getting behind Women in ICT. The impression this makes wouldn’t be doable with out you.
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