Kazakhstan’s Tech Girls Program Promotes Women in STEM
Kazakhstan Launches Two-Month Tech Girls Program to Increase Digital Literacy and Encourage Women in STEM
Kazakhstan has recently introduced the Tech Girls program, a new initiative aimed at enhancing the digital literacy of young women, teaching programming basics, and promoting participation in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). The Central Communications Service press office announced the launch of the program on Feb. 9, which will run for two months.
According to Aziza Shuzheyeva, a member of the National Commission for Women’s Affairs, Family and Demographic Policy, applications for the program are open from Feb. 7 to March 1. The Tech Girls program is open to girls aged 16 to 23 years.
The two-month program will provide free training in No Code, Low Code, and Beta Career to more than 3,000 girls across the country. The training will include webinars, workshops, live broadcasts, and sessions with experts and mentors from the Techno Women organization and Astana Hub International Technopark of IT startups. Participants will also have the opportunity to create their IT products and intern at leading IT companies.
Shuzheyeva emphasized that Kazakhstan is a highly advanced country in terms of digitalization, especially in the offtech and fintech sectors, which creates new opportunities for girls and women in the digital landscape. She noted that digital technologies can help Kazakh women find their niche in the labor market.
Last year, the IT-Aiel program trained more than 2,000 unemployed women aged 18 years and older from 17 regions of Kazakhstan. It is expected that the IT-Aiel program will continue this year, further contributing to the enhancement of women’s participation in the digital industry.
Currently, more than 1,400 companies are registered in the Astana Hub, with 261 of them being managed by women. Most of these startups are focused on developing the social sphere.
The Tech Girls program aligns with Kazakhstan’s commitment to increasing women’s participation in the digital economy and promoting gender equality in the STEM fields. With this initiative, the country looks forward to empowering young women and providing them with the necessary skills to thrive in the digital age.
