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Getting girls into STEM education with Avanade

12 December 2016

JA Europe and Avanade have agreed to launch a new effort worldwide. The program focuses on empowering, upskilling and educating more than 500 girls on technology, enabling them to make a considered decision on choosing a career in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
Why should we inspire girls to choose STEM?

Despite the rising demand for STEM professionals (expected to grow by 8% between 2013 and 2025), women are still underrepresented in these fields (only 28% of the world's researchers are women).

Junior achievement and Avanade are beginning a global effort which will span four academic years (2016-2019) across five selected countries: Brazil, China, Norway, Spain and Sweden, with the potential for further growth opportunity in the future. Avanade is the leading provider of innovative digital and cloud services, business solutions and design-led experiences on the Microsoft platform; making them the partner of choice to encourage girls to choose STEM studies and careers. By taking part in JA programs like Job shadow days (Leaders-for-a-Day), the JA Company Program and Innovation Camps dedicated to technology with support of Avanade employees, teenaged girls will be more aware of the opportunities for employment in the IT sector.

“There is evidence of skills shortages in STEM in spite of high unemployment rates in many countries around the world. The proportion of students going into STEM is not increasing and underrepresentation of women in STEM persists. Our work with Avanade volunteers is helping combat those issues: raising young women’s awareness of the skills they will need in the future, providing role models and giving them greater confidence in their abilities,” said Caroline Jenner,  CEO JA Europe and Global Head of Regional Development at JA Worldwide.

Avanade employees will have the opportunity to become volunteers, mentors, advisors or classroom presenters to girls wanting to learn about technology. As important role models, the Avanade volunteers will be a source of practical advice and experience as well as encouragement and motivation throughout the year.

Avanade also works closely with the Aspire Foundation , providing mentoring to women working in charities and social enterprises. JA Europe local country offices employees will now be invited to join the Aspire Foundation community and benefit from valuable mentoring opportunities that will help them in turn to be more efficient and impact better on young women.

“I am delighted Avanade can support this important effort. As a CEO and the father of two daughters I am personally passionate about seeing more women in STEM fields in the near and long term. Diversity drives creativity innovation and a more human approach, which is at the heart of innovation and digital change. JA is working hard to bring more girls into STEM studies and careers and Avanade is excited to be part of the effort,” added Adam Warby, Avanade CEO.

Girls In STEM

About JA Europe

JA Europe is Europe’s largest provider of education programmes for entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy, reaching 3.5 million students in 39 countries in 2015. It was founded in 2001 when Young Enterprise Europe and Junior Achievement International Europe merged. JA works with the education and business communities as well as governments to provide young people from primary school to university with experiences that build the skills and competences they will need to succeed in a global economy. JA’s activities have been endorsed as best practice by the European Commission. JA Europe is the European Regional Operating Centre for JA Worldwide®. Learn more at www.jaeurope.org


About Avanade

Avanade is the leading provider of innovative digital and cloud services, business solutions and design-led experiences delivered through the power of people and the Microsoft ecosystem. Our professionals combine technology, business and industry expertise to build and deploy solutions to realize results for our clients and their customers. Avanade has 29,000 digitally connected people across 23 countries, bringing clients the best thinking through a collaborative culture that honors diversity and reflects the communities in which we operate. Majority owned by Accenture, Avanade was founded in 2000 by Accenture LLP and Microsoft Corporation. Learn more at www.avanade.com


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For more information please contact:

Philippe Giot
Communications & Digital Media Officer, JA Europe
philippe@jaeurope.org
+32 (0)478 87 07 31

Katy Shrimpton
Communications Manager, Avanade Europe
k.shrimpton@avanade.com

 

 

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