India and the U.S. Come Together to Inspire Women and Girls to get involved with ICT
The U.S. is not the only country where women are a minority in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT). In India, there is a higher number of women in the ICT workforce than that in the U.S.
According to DipNote, the Department of State led a delegation from U.S.-based companies in India to discuss the challenges in getting young women engaged in ICT. The delegation was headed by Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, Alyssa Ayres. They visited government offices, universities, local and multinational companies and industry groups in New Delhi and Bangalore.
At the elite India Institute of Technology (IIT), only 12 percent of the student body are women, said the DipNote article. With that, only half of that number are in the highly competitive computer science programs.
India and the U.S. discovered that successful women role models in the ICT field can possibly inspire more young women and girls to pursue technology-based careers. The delegation said mentors and peer networks can provide support and guidance with every step of career advancement. There is also talk about the best practices like flexible work plans and transitional internships for mothers returning to work for talented women wanting to pursue their future careers.
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