Delighted to see young girls learn coding and software development; empower yourself to change not only yours but the lives of your families: Atishi
*Women, trans-women from marginalized communities will get free of cost hands-on learning experience in software development and coding at Delhi Skills and Entrepreneurship University *
Skill Varsity welcomes the first batch of girls and trans women for its software programming course; the first of many to build an inclusive community education system: Dr Neharika Vohra VC DSEU
New Delhi:
Working towards making skilling aspirational, accessible, and inclusive for women and transwomen, the Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University launched the first residential program in software programming. The program was inaugurated by Ms Atishi, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Education and MLA from Kalkaji Constituency. To be run in collaboration with NavGurul, the fully-funded residential course is a 20-month advanced diploma course in Software Programming.
Speaking on the occasion Ms Atishi said, “We are in the 21st century surrounded by technology where google answers all our questions in mere seconds and yet we are to spend 14 years in the formal education system. Those 14 years tell us what you can and cannot study. With this program in coding and programming, the effort is to challenge these notions by encouraging students with strong logic to pursue a career in a tech world.”
She further added, “More importantly, this program is challenging the patriarchal gender norms for education by offering the program only to girls and trans women. This is our chance to take this hands-on learning opportunity and make this program aspirational for more girls with similar interests.”
Prof. (Dr.) Neharika Vohra, VC, DSEU while addressing the gathering said “Our education is the only thing that stays with us throughout. Education is what builds our personality, and helps us grow in our personal and professional lives. At this time, you have made a choice, a choice to be a student in a course in a perceived male-dominated industry. My advice to you is to remember that it is not your gender but the skills that will help you. DSEU with NavGurukul will help you learn and build on these skills, providing you with all the support required, facilitating your learning in a way best suited for you, but at the end of day, it is your effort that will count. Remember the choice that you made to learn software development and coding and give it your best to make it the best choice of your life.”
Abhishek Gupta, Founder, NavGurul, while addressing the students, said “Growing up, I saw privilege in education and how it affected an individual’s opportunities for growth and learning. While starting NavGurul, our goal was to make education aspirational and not privileged. With the same vision, we are grateful to have this opportunity to start an advanced diploma program for young girls and trans women. This is our joint effort to offer these young students a program that is student-driven, with relevant curriculum, and most importantly offers employability opportunities once they complete the program.”
The program is being supported by Sinch India. Speaking with the girls and trans women, Rachna Vats (Member- Board of Directors, Sinch India) expressed that “This program is extremely close to our hearts, we are excited and looking forward to provide internship support to the young girls and also to assist the students throughout.”
The program is being offered at DSEU with NavGurukul Foundation for Social Welfare, a non-profit organisation, which runs a residential course for students from low-income and marginalized communities in Software Engineering. The fully-funded residential course shall provide the girls and trans women the opportunity to learn and grow in the technical world through a 6 month long training period. The program has admitted 84 students for its inaugural batch at the DSEU Dwarka Campus.