ITU Area Office for CIS: Videoconference Dedicated to the Girls in ICT Day

4/2/2018

CIS, Russia, Moscow, Russia

35 participants

The Videoconference dedicated to the International Girls in ICT Day was held in the Area Office of the International Telecommunication Union based in Moscow on 3 April 2018. Since the International Girls in ICT Days is celebrated on 26 April this year and, therefore, coincides with the ITU Council in Geneva, it was decided to conduct a videoconference preceding the traditionally marked fourth Thursday of April to provide to the stakeholder a platform to share information on the events to be held within the framework of the Girls in ICT initiative to obtain an aggregate picture of the Girls in ICT Day celebrations in the CIS region.

The videoconference was attended by over 30 participants representing communication administrations, ICT-specialized universities, telecommunication operators, and ITU partner organizations from 4 countries (Republic of Belarus, Kyrgyz Republic, Russian Federation, and Ukraine). Representatives of Rostelecom and International Academy of Telecommunications, as well as a guest of honour Orozobek Kaiykov, ex-Head of the Area Office, who came to the Area Office premises to take part in the event.

Kirill Oparin, Head of the Area Office, when delivering a greeting to the videoconference participants, noted lack of barriers for girls from CIS countries to choose a profession in the field of ICT, however still underrepresentation of women at the management level in the ICT enterprises.  

Orozobek Kaiykov agreed, that women in CIS countries encountered no obstacles when choosing an ICT-related profession, however most of women in the countries of the region still prefer traditional values to dedication to building a career.

Main part of the videoconference was dedicated to the events planned in the CIS countries within the framework of the Girls in ICT Day.

In particular, professors of Belarusian State Academy of Telecommunications presented their career guidance activities dedicated to the Girls in ICT Day, including open days, excursions to the ICT enterprises, as well as a scientific seminar promoting opportunities for students to pursue science, where female graduate and post-graduate students would present their exploratory works. Also, the Academy will conduct a skills competition for students in English language, where Girls in ICT will be one of the nominations.  As culmination of the Girls in ICT Day celebration, the Academy will conduct the ceremony of rewarding of the competition winners on 26 April.

The Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications (IET) under Kyrgyz State Technical University named after Iskhak Razzakov also presented their Girls in ICT events. Gulnara Abdyllayeva, the IET Director, said that the celebration events would take place on 23, 24, and 26 April, and this year, the IET would invite not the ICT female veterans, but young female ICT specialists, who had graduated from the IET just several years ago, worked in ICT and had found success. The IET consider it to be an important motivation factor for current students to introduce as models those girls who are able to successfully combine their carrier growth and personal life. Also, within the framework of the Girls in ICT Day, the IET will award the girls pursuing science.

Events dedicated to the Girls in ICT Day to be held in the Republic of Uzbekistan were presented by Zhamila Berdieva, Leading Strategy Specialist, Ministry for Development of Information Technologies and Communications of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Zhamila Berdieva told of several career guidance projects, which are currently implemented in Uzbekistan in cooperation with foreign universities. In particular, Technovation Challenge programme (Technovation Uzbekistan), which is aimed at raising interest of girls in acquiring education in the field of ICT. Within the framework of this programme, a week of woman technology business activity will be held in different cities of Uzbekistan second consecutive year, while the final event of the Technovation Uzbekistan will be held in May. Also, a week of women telematics and a number of other events dedicated to the Girls in ICT Day will be held in Uzbekistan jointly with Tashkent University of Information Technologies. Representatives of the Communication Administration of Uzbekistan also noted that the level of women’ involvement in the ICT sector was growing from year to year.

The events dedicated to the Girls in ICT Day to be conducted by A.S.Popov Odessa National Academy of Telecommunications (ONAT), Ukraine, were presented by Vadim Kaptur, Pro-rector for Scientific Work. In particular, Mr. Kaptur told of the Star of the Academy Beauty and Talent Show being held among the Academy students the day of the videoconference – 3 April 2018 (with Farid Nakhli, Programme Officer, ITU Area Office for CIS participating in the jury). On the Girls in ICT Day, 26 April, the ONAT will held an All-Ukrainian Telecommunication Academic Competition with participation of 60 students, including girls. The female winners will be awarded by the ONAT. Since the academic competition is a kind of test of certain professional knowledge and skills, Mr. Kaptur proposed to the Area Office to consider a possibility of awarding the winning girls with internship in the Area Office or participation in ITU regional events as speakers.

A quite intensive programme dedicated to Girls in ICT Day was presented by the Government for Citizens organization from Ulyanovsk Region. Among others, there will be a conference on Woman in Digital Environment on 26 April, where a section will be dedicated to woman business activity in digital environment. An educational project to be presented at the conference is meant to open for girls new horizons and consolidate educational institutions, internet technologies, and business.

One of the most active organizations in the CIS region in the implementation of Girls in ICT initiative is Femmes Digitales Club of the Republic of Azerbaijan. This year, the club is conducting a number of career guidance events dedicated to the Girls in ICT Day, in particular some events for school girls to draw their attention to ICT-related professional education.

Ekaterina Fomicheva, Line Manager, Department of International Cooperation, Rostelecom company informed of the contribution of Russian girls to the development of the ICT referring to activities of her company. In particular, Rostelecom submitted for the WSIS Prizes 2018 competition a programme on Digital Equality elaborated by several female staff of the company, who received a just reward as a result. Ms. Fomicheva noted that ICT Sector was very attractive from professional point of view since it provides opportunities for implementation of social projects and for personal fulfilment. Ms. Fomicheva expressed gratitude to the ITU for organization of the interesting and needed event, such as Girls in ICT Day, which allows to women to share experience and knowledge.

Anastasia Ositis, President, International Telecommunication Academy told of the current projects of the Academy and, in particular, of the Forum on Economy in the Conditions of Digital Transformation, which will be held exactly on the Girls in ICT Day, 26 April, noting the significant role of women in the development of ICT and impossibility to implement the digital transformation without women. Ms. Ositis wished to the International Telecommunication Union great success and to women – a right choice of their way.

When summing up the results of the videoconference, the participants noted a still intense interest to the Girls in ICT initiative in the CIS region and relevance of the events dedicated to the Girls in ICT Day as a platform for sharing experiences and exchange of opinions, as well as for promotion of the ICT sector as a sphere of professional fulfilment of women.

The International Telecommunication Union thanks all participants of the videoconference for their contribution to the discussion and expresses gratitude to Communication Administrations, ITU Sector Members and partners for the efforts aimed at implementation of the Girls in ICT initiative.