The Department of Computer Science and Information Technology has organised a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) pulse capacity building workshop to equip students with employability and STEM leadership skills.
The two-day workshop was held in collaboration with the British Council and Leeds Beckett University in the United Kingdom.
The workshop, which also aimed to advance gender-inclusive initiatives, covered a range of topics, including Practical AI tools for empowering women in STEM, AI skills for equity, Employability, and others.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Anderson Akponeware, a Lecturer at Leeds Beckett University, emphasised the need to foster female participation in STEM.
He called on institutions in Ghana to bridge the gender gap in STEM-related fields as part of a broader push to cultivate female talent across Ghana and beyond.
While underlining the need for industry partnerships to empower young women pursuing STEM careers, Dr. Akponeware also challenged women to embrace opportunities in STEM and break systemic barriers that limit their access to economic independence.
Dr. Sandra Obiora and Dr. Anderson Akponeware at the capacity-building workshop
He said many women hesitated to enter STEM fields, not due to a lack of ability, but because of deeply ingrained societal norms. He, therefore, urged women to be confident, step into leadership roles and mentor, support, uplift and advocate for fellow women.
The Principal Investigator of the STEM Pulse Project, Dr. Regina Esi Turkson, who spoke on the Strategies for Promoting Early STEM Engagement for Girls, charged corporate Ghana and stakeholders to invest in creating opportunities for young girls and women who are in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
She indicated that STEM remained a critical tool for driving socio-economic and inclusive growth, calling on stakeholders to be intentional about pushing STEM and encouraging more young women to explore careers in the field.
“To achieve this, we have to show them that their dreams are possible, provide mentoring opportunities for them, and get them to engage with women who have excelled in the world of STEM,” he said.
A section of participants in a practical session
She admonished participants at the workshop to be courageous and curious about technology.
Dr. Turkson charged women to stand up and act to have equity at the table.
For her part, a Lecturer at Leeds Beckett University, Dr. Sandra Obiora, speaking on the topic: “Understanding Employability, Comprehending Job-Market Dynamics Strategic Career Path Mapping,” urged the students in the technology industry to develop soft skills to be competitive in the sector.
She said most employers wanted candidates with added skills like leadership potential and creativity to add value to their operations.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC