Qatar affirms women are 70% of STEM school graduates

Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar reaffirmed its belief in the importance of women s participation in fields related to science, technology, engineering...

Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar reaffirmed its belief in the importance of women's participation in fields related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), considering it a key element in preparing a more balanced workforce to support sustainable development goals.

This came in a statement by HE Qatar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva Dr. Hind Abdulrahman Al Muftah during the International Telecommunication Union's celebration of the International Girls in ICT Day under the theme of leadership.

Her Excellency noted that Qatar has adopted proactive and preventive policies to protect human rights in general and women's rights in particular, which have been solidified in Qatar's Vision 2030, emphasizing the enhancement of women's capabilities and empowerment.

She pointed out that the enrollment rate of women in higher education in 2021 reached significant levels, with women constituting 70% of graduates in fields such as information systems, computer engineering, general engineering, medicine, pharmacy, and sciences. She emphasized the necessity of providing technology as a key factor in transforming Qatar into a knowledge-based economy accessible to all members of society, including women.

Her Excellency added that Qatar's analysis revealed the need to develop skills in data science, robotics, cybersecurity, and to improve the use of administrative software, programming, and collaborative platforms. In response to these challenges, several initiatives have been launched in Qatar to increase awareness and support the development of digital skills within the current and future workforce.