Girls embracing technology subjects through Mastercard Girls4Tech

Year 5 and 6 girls at Freemans Bay School kicked off term three learning fraud detection techniques; discovering how digital convergence, Near Field Communications (NFC) and biometrics can simplify life, and uncovering how algorithms are everywhere. The day of hands-on activities was part of the Mastercard Girls4Tech programme, now in its fifth year in New Zealand.

A global program, Mastercard Girls4Tech aims to challenge the gender biases and societal perception towards women working in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) by teaching girls aged 10-13 foundation STEM principals to encourage them to study these subjects in later education.

“Our vision for learning at Freemans Bay School is to create a stimulating, inclusive learning environment which empowers, engages and enriches learners to prepare them for their future world,” says Freemans Bay School principal, Sandra Jenkins.

“We want to empower learners to be collaborative, critical thinkers and problem-solvers, engage learners through active involvement and powerful learning partnerships and enrich learners through personalizing learning, inquiry and a wide curriculum. Mastercard’s Girls4Tech program will spark learners’ interest in STEM that could motivate them to consider careers in engineering and technology and equip them with creative problem-solving skills now and in their futures.”

According to the World Economic Forum, women remain a minority in STEM-related careers. Mastercard’s 2017 Girls in STEM research found 30 percent of 17 to 19-year-old girls in Asia Pacific said they will not choose STEM jobs, despite studying a STEM subject.

Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye attended the event at Freemans Bay School and presented certificates to participating students.

Ms Kaye said with digital disruption being the new normal, it is critical the experiences students have at school reflect and keep pace with the fast-changing world they will encounter.

“It’s so encouraging to see companies such as Mastercard step up and support our future female leaders in a real way at such a critical time in their development.  The girls I saw today were excited and inspired to participate in STEM subjects which can be applied across a number of roles and industries.”

The inquiry-based STEM program has an ambitious commitment to reach one million girls globally by 2025. To date it has reached more than 100 girls across New Zealand, and more than 430,000 girls, in 25 countries, more than doubling its established 2017 goal.

“As a technology company, Mastercard feels it is important to actively challenge the gender biases and societal perceptions towards women in STEM and ensure they are given equal opportunity to their male peers,” said Ruth Riviere, Country Manager, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, Mastercard.

“And as a woman working in STEM, encouraging young women to see the diverse opportunities it opens up is something particularly close to my heart.”

The STEM curriculum was designed by Mastercard employees, engineers and technologists, to teach girls the principles and showcase science and math as well as introduce terms such as algorithms, encryption, biometrics, big data and detective work.