Repton School Dubai and technology leader Mastercard have collaborated to bring Mastercard’s flagship Girls4Tech STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programme to Year 4 and Year 5 students. The initiative focuses on inquiry-based and hands-on activities, delivering exciting real-world challenges based on innovative digital themes.
Launched in 2014, the Mastercard Girls4Tech programme has already reached one million girls in 30 countries. It recently announced a new goal to reach five million girls across the world by 2025 as the company ambitiously fuels a pipeline of future female talent in the tech sector. Mastercard has also pledged to reach 2,020 girls in the region through the programme as part of its commitment to Expo 2020 Dubai in its role as the event’s Official Payment Technology Partner.
Repton School Dubai aims to further empower young girls to become the digital leaders of tomorrow and inspire them to pursue STEM careers for greater gender parity through the outstanding STEM programme.
Girls in Year 4 and Year 5 participated in Mastercard’s flagship STEM program
David Cook, Headmaster at Repton School Dubai, says, “The STEM curriculum is highly rated globally and is well known for presenting innovative careers of the future. As educators, it is our responsibility to identify and guide our students in recognising their true potential.”
Beatrice Cornacchia, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Middle East and Africa at Mastercard, said: “To innovate effectively in a way that truly addresses the changing needs of society, it is essential that the public and private sector include gender-diverse perspectives by design. Through Girls4Tech, Mastercard is fuelling the pipeline for future female talent by introducing the possibilities of STEM careers, while also supporting gender balance, diversity and inclusion, which are key to unlocking the long-term sustainable growth that will enable more communities to thrive”.
Girls from Repton School Dubai participated in the online STEM curriculum over multiple weeks, facilitated by expert volunteers from Mastercard. The sessions focused on key digital themes around ‘Encryption’, ‘Detection’ and ‘All Things Digital’, which connect Mastercard’s innovative technology to STEM principles.
Mastercard has reached over 1 million girls across the world through its award-winning Girls4Tech programme
Within the Middle East and North Africa region, Mastercard has also introduced its STEM programme to Morocco. Additionally, Mastercard will be launching two new programmes in the coming months: Girls4Tech 2.0 for girls between the ages of 13 and 16, and Girls4Tech & Code, a 20-week programme for girls between the ages of 8 and 10.
“We need to support our students with the necessary skills required to succeed in their preferred future endeavours. Girls4Tech is a pioneering programme that has accomplished key milestones in its tenure, and we are proud to be affiliated with Mastercard on this venture,” concluded Cook.