Recent figures show that only 5,604 female students are currently enrolled in university computing courses, compared to 24,908 male students. In other words, for every one woman study computing, there are just over five men: the lowest proportion of female computing students in recent years. With so few girls graduating with these vital technical skills, the UK economy is missing a number of opportunities for growth, innovation and success.
These figures seem to fly in the face of increased efforts to encourage girls into computing, from the recent Hour of Code and the Your Life programme, to computing clubs for girls and the new school programming curriculum. So why aren’t existing programmes to encourage girls to participate in STEM working?
I believe that these programmes are working to a certain extent - but their impact will only be felt in the longer term. In the meantime, more needs to be done to encourage larger numbers of girls to study computing and related sciences. Ensuring more girls are exposed to STEM at school is a good first step, but it is just that: a first step. The real challenge for teachers is to make their STEM lessons engaging and relatable, and the same goes for those who run computing clubs.
When I was at school, instead of burning peanuts and creating methane reactions, I would have loved to have learned about something more in tune with my interests and hobbies. A great example of this is the use of characters from Disney’s hit film, Frozen as avatars that taught children during this year’s Hour of Code.
Hand-in-hand with grass-roots encouragement, we also need a top-down push to show girls what they can achieve through computing studies. Highlighting the solid career paths and remuneration that the technology industry provides is one part of this. Another is showcasing female role models and getting them to meet and talk with secondary school students.
This shouldn’t just involve high-profile technology leaders, but women at all stages of their IT careers, so that by achieving a critical mass of women in different aspects of technology, girls are better able to picture themselves in a computing-related career. Programmes like the Information Age Women in IT Awards also have a key role to play in changing the perception of technology as a “boys club”, by drawing attention to the contribution of women to the industry.
As I mentioned earlier, government initiatives alone will not help address the low number of girls studying computing at school and the consequent economic impact. The technology industry and particularly the women working in it, have a responsibility to become involved in encouraging more girls (and boys for that matter) to study IT-related subjects.
We all have an obligation to help these children, the sector and the economy as a whole reach their full potential. Given the technical skills shortage Britain is currently facing, helping even a few more girls to pursue a career in technology will benefit us all.
Eileen O’Mara is senior vice president at Salesforce and a judge for the Women in IT awards.
