On International Girls in ICT Day, sector employees call for equality

AMMAN — On International Girls in ICT Day, Jordanian female specialists and professionals in the Information and Communication Technologies sector are drawing attention to the Kingdom’s ICT potential, and are calling for stakeholders to harness the sector’s human capital more effectively.

Celebrated annually on April 27, this year’s theme, “Digital Skills for Life”, is intended to inspire and encourage girls to pursue a future in ICT by ensuring they are equipped with the necessary skills, according to UN International Telecommunication Union.

Bayan Khaled, a young Jordanian computer engineer, told The Jordan Times on Wednesday that locally, the sector is playing a leading role in establishing the Kingdom as an ICT pioneer in the region. 

However, Khaled noted that there are not enough programmes or incentives that directly cultivate the presence of women in the sector.

“There is still a minority status when talking about girls and women in the ICT industry. However, increased attention is being paid to enhance the skills and knowledge of sector professionals in general,” she said.

Similarly, Ghaida Omar, an ICT specialist and owner of an ICT training centre for children, reflected on the need to evaluate and examine and improve the general status of women in the local ICT sector.

“There are many ways through which girls and women can be empowered. One way is through ICT,” Omar said, adding that ICT is “a powerful catalyst” for the economic and social empowerment of women, and young women in particular.

Reflecting on the challenges that may face women in the ICT workplace in Jordan, Omar noted that locally, female ICT employees might still lack equal access to professional development opportunities.