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- Huawei just announced the relaunch of its Women in Tech Programme.
- Topics to be covered include artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing.
- This year, the online course will take place from 21 to 28 June, and applications close on June 20.
- For more stories, visit the Tech and Trends homepage.
In support of Youth Month, Huawei is relaunching its Women in Tech Programme to upskill young South African women in the ICT field.
This year, the online programme will take place between 21 and 28 June and is open to women of all ages currently studying in the field of ICT, or who are interested in pursuing a career in the industry.
The programme will cover topics like artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and cloud computing, and will be followed by masterclasses between 3 and 17 July.
"At Huawei, we know how important it is to ensure that women have the skills needed to participate equitably in a field that’s traditionally been male-dominated,” said Vanashree Govender, media relations and communications manager at Huawei South Africa.
Following the success of the programme in 2021 and 2022, the Chinese multinational corporation felt it was crucial to expand the initiative to include young women.
"Women currently make up just 13% of graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects, meaning that we all have roles to play when it comes to ensuring that the sector is as equitable as possible," Govender said.
According to Productivity SA, South Africa is currently facing a skills shortage in ICT due to various factors, including a lack of investment in ICT education, insufficient funding for research and development, and a shortage of skilled professionals in the field.
Recent research indicates that "the country lacks at least 70 000 ICT professionals, which is further exacerbated by the declining number of graduates", says EQPlus CEO Frik van der Westhuizen.
The issue is even worse among women, as a small percentage of them are in the field, further strengthening the gender gap in ICT.
Starleen Mangozho, who is facilitating the cloud computing section of the course, said:
Getting rid of the gender gap yields various benefits for women, as their engagement as both students and working professionals in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is important for local and global economies.
"I’m excited because this is an opportunity to engage with young women and to talk to, empower, and influence them to understand their abilities,” says Tabani Njaba, who will be handling the big data track of the course programme.
"As women, we often underestimate ourselves. Programmes like this provide a great opportunity for young women to unleash their full potential."
How to apply
To participate in the course, prospective students must fill in the online application form, which covers their personal details, the course they’re interested in, and their motivation for participating in the course before the 20 June deadline.
