everis, a multinational business, and technology consultancy, part of the NTT DATA Group, boost #girlsgonna an educational initiative started after a long analysis that began in 2008 given the lack of female talent in the ICT sector. Thus, the social project was created in collaboration with MTech, the Tech Women Association, and under the Made-with-CLOQQ (create whatever you want, for its Spanish acronym). The main objective is to decrease the gender gap in the digital sector while intending to fight against gender prejudices associated with technology, as well as reduce unconscious bias in the technology sector.
Social education around egalitarian inclusion in technology is more necessary than ever. According to UNESCO data, globally, only 30% of women in STEM careers, a percentage that drops drastically to 3% if we refer only to engineering. In today’s context, where all sectors are going through digital transformation processes, the demand for STEM profiles has grown considerably around the world. According to data from the European Commission, 40% of organizations have difficulties hiring people with specific ICT training, and currently, in Europe, there are 800,000 jobs related to ICT disciplines without filling.
To achieve a real impact on the social imaginary, the training proposed by everis is not only aimed at girls, but also a didactic and pedagogical task in all social areas. It also includes and the people involved in education and growth. For this reason, families, boys, and girls, teachers, and educational centers are trained.
Technology Driven Education
Throughout these months, the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT for the Spanish Acronym) and everis have joined forces to promote an educational project within the framework of #girlsgonna, offering online workshops focused on the history of leading figures in science and technology belonging to groups that are usually underrepresented in these areas, reducing stereotypes associated with technology and promoting diversity in the digital sector.
Thus, during the last year due to the special current pandemic situation, the classes have relied on videoconferencing technologies to give workshops remotely, continuing with the activity for the development of egalitarian STEAM. The initiative has managed to train more than 1,000 families, more than 200 teachers and 500 students in 10 educational centers.
María Jesús Villa, everis CSR Director, has stated that the project represents “a great opportunity for us to do our bit to eliminate certain prejudices that we all have. Avoiding those unconscious biases, which make girls not choose STEM vocations, helps us to generate an egalitarian and inclusive environment in the educational environment that promotes real equality in STEM professions”.