There are almost more ‘international days of…’ than days on the calendar. But, of all of them, one of the ones I like the most It is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which is celebrated every February 11.
Year after year, this event is gaining more and more strength in our country. As a noteworthy fact, CSIC has prepared for the occasion 180 activities! From an immersive play at the Rocasolano Physical Chemistry Institute in Madrid, to streams scientific studies, including visits to educational centers throughout Spain.
‘Selfie’ of women and girls scientists, devised by the artificial intelligence MidJourney for the DigitalES association.
#11February offers us the perfect hook to influence the importance of diversity in all sectors of activity, very particularly in those that are going to shape the society and economy of the future. Science, R+D+i and technology represent the three great vectors of that future, which will be as prosperous as all of us are capable of building.
Taking advantage of the informative hanger, as I said, I want to value two projects. The first of these has been promoted by the Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures and is coordinated by the Official College of Telecommunications Engineers (COIT), with the collaboration of many other actors in the innovative and technological ecosystem in Spain (employers, universities, centers research, etc.).
The project is called PPET (Plan for the Promotion of Telecommunication Studies). As its name indicates, the objective is to promote vocations and attract talent to the telecommunications sector, men and women, but particularly the latter since they represent a very small percentage of ‘telco’ employment in Spain. The PPET intends to carry out a single high-impact coordinated promotion plan (and not 12 independent plans…) and provides for actions for students from Primary.
This project is open to the participation of any company willing to organize contests, hackathons, provide facilities for events and work sessions, advise, disseminate… All help is welcome, as long as it is carried out in a coordinated manner.
Several data corroborate the emergence of the PPET project:
- The employment rate in Telecommunications Engineering is 97.1% (source: INE 2020 Survey of Labor Insertion of University Graduates).
- The average salary of Telecommunications Engineers is €52,711 gross per year, almost double the national average.
- It is a totally globalized profession, with the possibility of working anywhere in the world.
However, the demand is increasing thanks to the digital transformation while the supply is decreasing. That’s why, it is necessary to attract a greater number of graduates in the Telecommunications area to cover the positions that the digital transformation requires. Regarding the gender gap in the ‘telco’ sector:
- 20% of ICT specialists in Spain are women.
- Only 4% of managers in ICT companies in Spain are women.
- Undergraduate/Master students in Telecommunications Engineering: only 25% are women.
It should be noted that the largest university gender gap in Spain is found in ICT majors. Only 13% of ICT students they are womenaccording to the report The State of Science 2020 of the OEI (Organization of Ibero-American States).
‘Selfie’ of women engineers, prepared by the artificial intelligence MidJourney for the DigitalES association.
The second project I want to highlight today is called ‘Companies that inspire’ and is championed by the Bertelsmann Foundation, with the collaboration of DigitalES. It consists of three large legs, and all of them are open to the participation of new companies and experts: professional talks, visits to companies and educational stays.
It is an initiative that adds value to both young students and companies, who find here access to talent and new ideas, and an extra element of motivation for their own staff. One last thing to think about:
- Only 7% of ESO students (≈15 years old) want to study a STEM career.
In short, everyone’s support and collaboration is needed to help students discover exciting and future professions, identify interests and vocations, and dismantle stereotypes associated with gender. The PPET and ‘Inspiring Companies’ projects are two initiatives that promote cooperation so that, together, we can go further.