The local arm of CompTIA, a US based global advocacy organisation for IT, has brought to New Zealand its global initiative designed to persuade women and girls to take up careers in IT.
The Dream IT program is led by CompTIA’s Advancing Women in IT Community “to impart the message that the IT industry is a great place for women and girls.” CompTIA says its introduction locally is at the request of The CompTIA ANZ Channel Community, and follows its launch in the USA in 2014 and in the UK in 2015
Karen Drewitt, general manager, The Missing Link, and a member of the CompTIA ANZ Executive Council, said: "The IT industry offers endless opportunities for women but it has been a challenge for our industry to get that message across to young people. Dream IT aims to address that challenge and introduce young women to the range of opportunities offered by technology careers. A greater number of women in IT will bring a balance of leadership styles and interpersonal skills to the IT workplace, and help alleviate the growing IT skills gap in Australia and New Zealand.”
The ANZ Dream IT website contains ready-made presentation materials and resources that “anyone can use to spread the message about the opportunities in the IT workforce for women and girls,” CompTIA says.
Women and girls interested in learning more about careers in IT can visit the Career Resource Centre, which has information on IT career options, tips for securing jobs, testimonials from women now in the IT workforce, and links to organisations that provide opportunities for mentoring, STEM education, and career guidance.The website, however, is the global website with, at present, minimal ANZ content; there are two links to lists of organisations for women in Australia and New Zealand and organisations for girls in Australia and New Zealand
CompTIA says it has more than 2000 members, 3000 academic and training partners and tens of thousands of registered users spanning the entire information communications and technology (ICT) industry.
It says it has invested millions of dollars to develop a growing portfolio of resources in the areas of IT education, IT certification, IT advocacy and IT philanthropy empower ICT companies and professionals worldwide with knowledge and resources to enhance their businesses and careers. “We empower ICT companies and professionals worldwide with knowledge and resources to enhance their businesses and careers,” it says.