“The Journey of Data in the Digital World” seminar and competition organized towards the high school students within the scope of the "Girls in Information and Technology" (GIT) project carried out in cooperation with the Eastern Mediterranean University School of Computing and Technology and Famagusta Women's Center Association (MAKAMER) was held on Thursday, 21 April 2022 at Rauf Raif Denktaş Culture and Congress Center. The seminars at 09:30 followed by the competition at 14:00. An award ceremony was also held at 16:30 following the end of the competition.
The GIT Project aims to increase the high school girls’ attention and interest on the fields of information, technology and engineering to improve their knowledge and to encourage them to seek their future in the information and technology sector at the stage of career selection.
Sponsored by Dağlı Insurance, TRNC Telsim and Cyprus Central Hospital, the event was held on the occasion of the International Day of Girls in Information and Communication Technologies, with the theme of 2022 as “Access and Security”.
In the event intended to increase the awareness of participating students in these areas by providing information on metaverse and new technologies, ethics and security, data creation and use, and digital footprints. The students were asked to make a "Smart Educational Institution Design" for the future by using all the information.
The Winner of the Competition is Famagusta Turkish Maarif College
Attended by the 10th, 11th and 12th grade female students of all high school in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), the event hosted total of 60 girls from 15 different schools. Famagusta Turkish Maarif College completed the competition in first place with 83.2 points, followed by Güzelyurt Turkish Maarif College in second place with 79.2 points and Famagusta Namık Kemal High School in third place with 72.4 points.
Delivering a speech in the award ceremony, EMU School of Computing and Technology Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nazife Dimililer reminded that the importance of information and technology has gained momentum with the pandemic, and the demand for workforce has increased in this direction, and that the number of women in this field is low in our country. Emphasizing that their aim is to encourage girls to pursue careers in technology-based fields and to ensure gender equality in the digital world, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dimililer stated that they set out to be with the girls so that they can shape the future. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dimililer also said that they are one step closer to this goal today and thanked everyone who contributed to the process ending her speech by wishing the project to make a difference.
Wishing that the achievement of gender equality would accelerate through the project, Famagusta Women's Center Association Director Sıdıka Özdoğan noted that their cooperation in this direction would continue within the framework of their efforts for women's emancipation. Özdoğan also gave information about MAKAMER and said that they expect the support of the state to ensure the acceptance of gender equality in society.
EMU Vice Rector for Social and Cultural Affairs Prof. Dr. Deniz İşçioğlu mentioned that there is no obstacle in front of digitalization and that the pandemic has accelerated it. Prof. Dr. İşçioğlu pointed out that the importance of the project is greater in every aspect and stated that it is of particular importance for girls to be with role models at every stage of the project. Expressing her gratitude to those who contributed to the project, Prof. Dr. İşçioğlu said: “We have full confidence in the girls, we have no doubt that you are our future. We have no doubt that you will achieve this”.
Prof. Dr. İşçioğlu, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dimililer and Özdoğan presented appreciation plaques to the sponsors after the opening speeches. The event trainers and jury members were resented with certificates of participation and a “Free Women” sculpture. Gift packages (including a 5GB internet quota) prepared by Dağlı Insurance and TRNC Telsim in accordance with the access theme of 2022 were presented to all students participating in the event, a plaque was presented to the top three schools, and a smart watch and Cyprus Central Hospital voucher were presented to the 12 students who were successful in the competition. In addition, a "Technology Tour" was planned by TRNC Telsim for all participating students to introduce information and communication technologies, including the Head Office, the Central Powerhouse, an exemplary base station and the Future Lab.
