Each 22 April is celebrated as United Nations (UN) International Girls in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Day.
Information and communications technology (ICT) stresses the role of unified communications and integration of telecommunications such as telephone lines and wireless signals and computers, as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage and audiovisual, that enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information.
The Thammasat University Library collection includes several books on ICT.
The term ICT is also used to refer to the convergence of audiovisual and telephone networks with computer networks through a single cabling or link system. There are large economic incentives to merge the telephone network with the computer network system using a single unified system of cabling, signal distribution, and management. ICT also refers to any communication device, encompassing radio, television, cell phones, computer and network hardware, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and appliances with them such as video conferencing and distance learning.
ICT is an expanding subject, involving any product that will store, retrieve, manipulate, transmit, or receive information electronically in a digital form, such as personal computers, digital television, email, or robots. Managing competencies for ICT professionals for the 21st century has become an educational trend, and the UN effort is to help ensure that girls and women are included in this advance.
The theme of this year’s UN International Girls in ICT Day is Connected Girls, Creating Brighter Futures:
While girls across the world tend to outperform boys in reading and writing skills, they continue to be under-represented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Among didactic approaches explored are the following:
How do we invest in innovative solutions to help and encourage girls to see themselves—and actively pursue careers—as leading agents in the tech sector? What are the financial benefits to companies and society if we can close the gap? In engaging interviews with prominent businesspeople, we’ll talk about the role of business in reshaping the technology sector to inspire and encourage girls and women to be a part of our shared digital future.
Radio and television are crucial ways to get information in countries with limited technology access. To reach girls and encourage them to build bright digital futures for themselves and their communities, broadcasters are key partners. This moment will feature leaders of global broadcasting unions and radiocommunication experts, showcasing the ways media can help girls and young women get connected and build brighter futures.
Involvement of the general population is critical to encourage girls in technology. Girls and young women need support from communities, activists, educators and networks to build their digital futures. What organizations are creating grassroots support for gender digital equality? What issues do they face when trying to influence policymakers, governments, NGOs and the private sector? This moment will talk about ways to get active in supporting #GirlsinICT around the world.
Experts in technology can be teachers, mentors, and/or role models who help build career opportunities and educational foundations in STEAM. Companies are actively working to reach out to girls and young women and provide digital skills training. How can expert-led online learning, digital skills training and tech courses help girls and young women build a solid foundation for a career in STEAM? What are the best ways for experts to engage and support youth in technology?
Thailand and UN International Girls in ICT Day
In the Kingdom, UN International Girls in ICT Day features leadership and training tracks, to inspire girls and women to pursue studies and careers in science, technology and the ICT sector.
These programmes are expected to enhance their awareness and skills not only in technology but also in leadership, e-agriculture and entrepreneurship.
Digitally empowered girls and women can help support and lead innovation as well as essential functions of society and economy, such as recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and building back better with digital technologies. The ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific is at the forefront of such digital inclusion and digital empowerment efforts.
Girls and young women in Thailand have the opportunity to experience and benefit from Girls in ICT Day celebrations together with the high level speakers, female leaders, role models and other students wherever they are, even in rural areas. Technology continues to transform the way we connect for events like Girls in ICT Day, which matters as it contributes to the positive development of aspiring ICT leaders in Thailand and beyond.
As the website of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the UN responsible for all matters related to information and communication technologies, notes,
In Thailand, there are just as many women-owned businesses as those owned by men. Women also make up more than half of all scientists across the country.
Despite the gender balance in professions like business and science, only one in four experts interviewed by the media are women.
In 2017, an article published in Chiang Mai City Life observed:
While Thailand offers little government or independent research on women in the ICT sector. UNESCO, however, last year released a report that revealed that Thailand was way ahead of most countries in region relating to women working STEM (Science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.
Compare, for instance, Thailand 53% share of female researchers working in the field of Science, technology and innovation, compared to Japan’s 15% or South Korea’s 18%. Thailand is generally seen as progressive in this area.
This progressiveness includes rural outreach, as the website of The Research Center of Communication and Development Knowledge Management (CCDKM) based at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University explained in 2018:
Spotlight on digital inclusion for girls and women in rural Thailand
At ITU, we recognize the incredible power of information and communications technologies (ICTs) to create economic and social opportunities for women, especially in rural areas. Thailand has recently shown great leadership in this area through rural women agricultural technology (agritech) training programs and digital skills training across the country.
Agritech training for female students and others in Thailand
As part of ITU’s International Girls in ICT Day last year, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society of Thailand, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Microsoft (Thailand), Cisco (Thailand) and ITU, launched a capacity building program aimed at imparting digital skills to female students in Thailand.
One of the thematic areas was “Agritech Using ICTs,” in which more than 200 female students and other community members built skills and awareness to help them use ICTs for farming.
The program consisted of three training sessions of three days each primarily focusing on school children in Thailand. The workshops were conducted by the Research Center of Communication and Development Knowledge Management, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University.
The training focused on ICT skills, knowledge and innovations that could be applied to both the ‘Smart Farm Model’ and the Learning Program of the Agricultural and Technology Schools and Colleges.
“We gained more confidence in using ICT for our own development, as well as to help our families’ farms,” one of the girls said after the training.
The students were trained to use mobile devices for farm applications, as well as raise awareness on use of unmanned aerial vehicles and drone technology as it relates to the development of agricultural and natural resources.
(All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)