From 21-22 May 2024, Dr Roland Banya attended a hybrid International Girls in ICT Day learning workshop organised by the Department of Communications and Digital Technology. The workshop brought together female learners from Gauteng, Limpopo, Northwest and Mpumalanga Provinces in an attempt to create awareness on the need for more girls and women in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. This event is an annual celebration that is commemorated on the fourth Thursday of April globally. It offers an opportunity to transfer skills and knowledge to learners, and inspire them to become technological leaders of future generations, as well as active participants in the digital world regardless of gender, race, background or other preferences.
The event was an interactive seminar under the theme: Digital Skills for All & Leadership. Dr Banya made a presentation on ICT Policy, Regulation Research & Understanding the AI Landscape in South Africa. The learners were fascinated with the content and asked many questions. Notably, many enquired about how they would potentially benefit from artificial intelligence and, more importantly, how they could pursue careers in ICT. This programme has been found to have a positive impact on creating a meaningful shift in South Africa’s ICT Gender Gap, and the connection of three more provinces ensured broader participation of learners.
