Celebrating Women Trailblazers: Empowering Education, Shaping the Future
International Women’s Day is a constantly evolving compendium of stories of courage and resilience, one on which progress is slowly, but surely, built upon. What once was deemed revolutionary – like girls and women being granted the right to education – is today enshrined in constitutions and universal declarations of human rights.
But much remains to be done. Women continue to be underrepresented in fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and Information and Communications Technology (ICT), and this has a wider impact on our world than a singular, individual career choice might appear to entail. As the “She Figures” study shows us, women represent only 20% of ICT graduates and only 17% hold tech sector jobs. Women also represent only 24% of self-employed professionals in technical professions, such as science, engineering or ICT.
Connecting Across Generations
It’s important to recall those whose footsteps forged the path that we’re walking on. Remembering, discussing and taking inspiration from trailblazers like Ada Lovelace, the world's first computer programmer; Maria Montessori, a pioneer in education; and Grace Hopper, a computing trailblazer, is one way to honour the past while connecting them, their stories and achievements to our reality.
This perspective should allow us to acknowledge that the progress achieved today stands on the shoulders of those who dared to dream and break barriers. International Women's Day is a reminder of the infinite possibilities unlocked by empowering women in every sphere.
This year, we’d like to join in the celebration with a reflection on the incredible women who breathe life into DigiEduHack, contributing to its growth and success.
Honoring Our DigiEduHack Women Champions
Behind the scenes of DigiEduHack, there exists a dynamic community of women who are architects of innovation, resilience, and collaboration. From creative and dedicated hosts, expert mentors and enthusiastic participants to those working tirelessly in the central DigiEduHack team to ensure the success of the initiative, all these women fuel the engine of our global digital education initiative.
Let’s take a moment today to think about the commitment of hosts to digital education advancement and how, through the local hackathons, they foster an environment where diverse voices can be heard, skills can be enhanced and groundbreaking solutions can emerge.
Think about the mentors, who play a pivotal role in guiding participants through the hackathon journey. Their expertise and encouragement create a supportive space where skills are honed, ideas are nurtured, and confidence flourishes.
And the participants themselves, 45% of whom were young girls and women coming from various backgrounds, with different walks of life and levels of education, all bringing their own, unique perspectives to the table. Their work – the solutions presented as part of all four editions of DigiEduHack – are testaments to the transformative power of education and technology.
Shaping a Future of Equality and Innovation
DigiEduHack is an initiative of the European Commission under the Digital Education Action Plan, which has a specific point focused on increasing women’s participation in STEM. This was naturally incorporated in DigiEduHack’s essence: we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment and have a concrete goal of attracting and engaging women in our hackathons.
Let’s use today to acknowledge the women who contribute their brilliance, passion, and dedication to building a more equitable world through education and technology. And let’s collectively continue the journey toward a future where every woman has the opportunity to create, innovate, and shape – why not, the future of digital education.
Happy International Women's Day!
