National Girls Learning Code Day

By Sonya Davidson

According to a new study, out of the Canadians that considered a career in technology, only 18 per cent were women.  A third admitted that the lack of encouragement to pursue science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) degrees put them off entering the sector. 

To address this trend, MasterCard has partnered with Ladies Learning Code  and the University of Waterloo to empower more girls and women to pursue careers in technology. This exciting new program, entitled ‘National Girls Learning Code Day’, will see more than 700 girls (ages 8 – 13) and their parents take a FREE, 6-hour introductory coding class held simultaneously across the country on November 8th.

The University of Waterloo, another partner, will also participate by hosting a Python-language coding workshop aimed at students who are in non-STEM disciplines in an effort to introduce a variety of students to coding in a supportive and female-friendly environment. In addition, MasterCard is working with the Centre for Education in Math and Computing and the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science at the University of Waterloo to introduce a first-of-its-kind free online teaching and learning resource in 2015 that will be open to everyone. The courseware is designed to help students learn to program and support teachers in their daily classroom work.

“The new school year brings unlimited possibilities for students and we’re excited to share our passion for technology with girls across the country,” said Betty DeVita, President, MasterCard Canada. “The reality is the tech field is still male dominated, but it’s important to bring more women in because they offer a different perspective on the development of technology. With this campaign, we want to inspire and engage girls early on by showing them the potential opportunities and giving them the tools they need to pursue a future in technology.”

MasterCard is addressing this gap by identifying National Girls Learning Code Day as an opportunity for girls and women to learn how a coding and developer skill-set provides unlimited opportunities in today’s digital economy. 

For those unable to attend the in-person sessions, Ladies Learning Code will also host an online pre-recorded workshop accessible via their website.

Visit ladieslearningcode.com/girlscodeday for more details.