MUST HOLD A GENDER DIGITAL DIVIDE WORKSHOP
The Gender, Information, and Communications Technology (ICT) workshop was hosted by Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), an institutional corporation titled University as a Facilitator for Community-Based Sustainable Solutions to Demographic Challenges in South Western Uganda (MUST IUC-UCoBS). The workshop was organized by sub-project 6 of MUST IUC-UCoBS, titled “Institutional & Community ICT Capacity to Access and Utilize Information.”
Organized by Dr. Jane Katusiime, the workshop held on May 13, 2024, attracted 26 males and 31 females who were MUST staff, students, and guild representatives. The workshop was facilitated by Dr. Jane Katusiime, Dr. Ruth Nyakato, Ms. Tezra Wanyana, and Mr. Albert Agaba, and supported by Ms. Fortunate Tukamushaba, the sub-project 6 assistant.
The gender digital divide workshop aimed at mainstreaming and addressing the intersectionality between education and gender-based disparities in access to and use of ICT, gender representation in ICT careers and influencing factors. Some of the challenges tackled were gender-related student issues and a benchmarking report on teaching and learning (developed with AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts) with recommendations for MUST.
A lot of concerns were raised and the majority of the key issues focused on what can be done to address gender disparities. For example, the need to broaden access to technology, investing in digital infrastructure, creating digital platforms to address gender issues, employing anonymous screening, Curriculum Vitae (CV) screening (name, gender) to avoid bias, community engagements, making interviews and trainings open for everyone, irrespective of gender,
More so, the proposed solutions during the workshop were:
- The need to bridge the gender pay gaps, eliminate employment bias and show case already empowered ladies in ICT.
- The need to trigger the mindset of the youth to use ICT.
- There is a need to be more organized in providing opportunities in the future.
- Appropriate ICT use to access information.
- The need for ICT experts to develop an online system to kick out sexual harassment.
- The need to be mindful of one’s dress code to avoid sexual violation.
- The need to enjoy one’s rights without compromising the rights of others.
Ms. Moreen Kahima, the Deputy Dean of Students at MUST, honored the closing of the one-day workshop by highlighting the crucial role of students in advocating for gender equality in ICT. She encouraged them to embrace gender and ICT comprehensively by promoting decency, continuously learning, utilizing ICT, and integrating it into their daily lives.
SUCCEED, WE MUST
https://ucobs.must.ac.ug/photo_gallery/gender-ict-photos/
