As part of its commitment to encouraging young female to pursue careers in technology, Microsoft Oman hosted the DigiGirlz Day, in collaboration with the Omani Ministry of Education. This year sessions took place at the Salalah College of Applied Sciences and The Directorate General of Education in Al Buraimi which was attended by over 350 female students representing schools from across the regions.
The one-day event, part of Microsoft’s global DigiGirlz Program, is designed to provide high school female students with a better understanding of what a career in math, science and technology is all about. This year’s event featured a number of sessions focused on Windows 8 Apps, Kodu (a new visual programming language made specifically for creating games) and Mathematics 4.0.
During the DigiGirlz Day in Oman, students interacted with experts from Microsoft to gain exposure to careers in business and technology; the young ladies were also introduced to various technologies through hands-on activities. The students also attended interactive Panel Discussion that tackled the subject of “ICT for Women Entrepreneurship in the Sultanate of Oman”.
Issa Khalfan Al Anqoudi, Deputy Director, Educational Technology Department, elearning section, Ministry of Education at the Ministry of Education applauded Microsoft efforts in raising awareness about the importance of technology related fields.
“Technology is at the heart of all your daily activities and interactions, especially at work; creating an interest in IT amongst female students aims at providing them the skills to leverage technology to obtain information and transform it into knowledge.”
“Microsoft has a series of programs to help develop young talents in technology and entrepreneurship in Oman, the region and around the world,” Sheikh Saif Hilal Al Hosni, business development manager, Microsoft Oman, said.
He reiterated the importance of successful collaboration with local government bodies and educational institutions.
“We have been working closely with the Ministry of Education, our Partner in Learning, and we shall continue our joint efforts towards educational reform through the effective use of technology in the learning process.”
“DigiGirlz Day is an exciting event that provides young female students the opportunity to learn about the variety of opportunities available in the high-tech industry, get them excited about pursuing education in the business of technology and eventually help them explore future career paths. The response, over the years, has been overwhelming and we hope to reach out to more girls in next years’ DigiGirlz Day events,” Al Hosni added.