Bridging the gap for women in computer science | University - Study International News

There is a significant lack of female representation in the modern world of computer science. It’s an issue that must be addressed, according to Auckland ICT Graduate School

Photo: Auckland ICT Graduate School

It’s not because women are less capable than men when it comes to working in this sector. In fact, women used to be heavily involved in computer science, and for decades, the number of women involved in the field actually outpaced men.

However, in the 1980s, things changed. The percentage of women in computer science started to drastically fall.
Although it hasn’t officially been proven as the cause, it’s widely theorised that the drop of interest in computer science started with the rise of the personal computer, which was marketed more for boys rather than equally for both genders.

According to NPR, “These early personal computers weren’t much more than toys. You could play pong or simple shooting games, maybe do some word processing. And these toys were marketed almost entirely to men and boys...

At the Auckland ICT Graduate School in New Zealand, the programmes in Computer Science address the shortage of women in the field and encourage female students to excel in the sector in a number of ways.

The school aims to produce highly-skilled ICT graduates with work-relevant skills and deliver industry-focused information and communications technology education.

The school offers many avenues female students can take to pursue a rewarding career in the science field, even if it wasn’t the focus of their major during their undergraduate years.
Read more... 

Source: Study International News