Women's participation and progression in IT skill development programs at Creative IT Institute

Abstract

In 2019, I started my journey at Creative IT Institute with an internship, later worked as assistant faculty member, then promoted to faculty member, learning the ropes of Coding for Kids that was later introduced to Creative Juniors, a comprehensive program for school children ages 8–12 and 14-18. I served as an instructor, developing, leading programs and teaching youngsters. The result of my experience was not only rapid improvement in my leadership and pedagogical performance but I also took on this redefining work in the development of the company from an IT-education for adults to an IT-education focused more on children. The job has allowed me to hone my professional skills, particularly in leadership, team management, and multitasking. It has also grounded a problem-solution mindset, adaptive nature. Struggles such as balancing a fast-paced working schedule with full-time schooling and handling expectations of my guardians have taught me to become a better mediator. Yet this job has brought about a different kind of insight into gender in IT. Although more than 50% of the Bangladeshi population is women, their representation in IT is low. Questions about how women do IT skills preparation, the challenges they face, and organizations' initiatives to support it will be investigated in my research. The research project will investigate the reasons underlying this disparity, and provide practical suggestions for how to increase the participation of women in the vital IT sector in Bangladesh, a sector without which the country will not succeed in the 4th industrial revolution.