According to data provided by the BBG-TIC (Barometer of the Gender Gap in ICT Studies) – a free web tool (wib.aldaba.es/bbg-tic) developed by the ALDABA-WIB Chair, which incorporates new data on enrollment, academic results, etc. for the Computer Engineering Degree in A Coruña and Ourense – the number of women studying technology-related subjects is increasing, although this degree continues to be one of those with the lowest enrollment of women.
The ALDABA-WIB (Women, ICT & Business) Interuniversity Chair, in which the University of Vigo (UVigo), the University of A Coruña (UDC), and the ICT consulting firm ALDABA, was established to help alleviate this situation, joining forces with both universities to launch initiatives that eliminate gender stereotypes associated with ICT professions and highlight female role models in this field.
One of these actions is the ALDABA-TIC Camp: a summer technology camp aimed at girls and boys between the ages of 6 and 12, which takes place simultaneously in A Coruña and Ourense and in which 80% of the places are reserved for girls. The underlying reason is so that girls can perceive themselves as the majority and normalize this as a situation that can occur in reality, in contrast to what happens in the classrooms of schools where computer engineering degrees are taught. During the camp, participating children learn through play about drone training, 3D tool creation, robot construction and programming, etc. All of this is set in the context of a mission to the depths of the underwater world.
In A Coruña, the camp is partially subsidized by the UDC Social Council, which means that any family, regardless of income, can benefit.
The summer camp, which is taking place during the week of June 25-28, is proving to be a complete success, both in terms of the number of applicants and the evaluation of the camp by parents and participating children. That is why this year there will be a second session, from July 1-5, to meet the high demand.
On Friday, June 28, at 12:30 p.m., in the Lecture Hall of the Faculty of Computer Science in A Coruña, the closing ceremony of the first session of ALDABA-TIC Camp: Mission to the Depths will take place, and diplomas will be awarded to the participants. The event will be attended by the director of the chair at the UDC, Virginia Mato, and the managing partner of ALDABA, Enrique Fernández.