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Rabat – The IEEE Women in Engineering Summit commenced today at the Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI) with a resounding call for women’s empowerment across diverse career horizons, notably in STEM.
The summit’s inauguration witnessed a convergence of experts who expressed a shared commitment to fostering global collaboration, as well as highlighted the collective power of women coming together to drive change.
Eileen Scully, an author, speaker, and consultant, expressed her enthusiasm for the summit, emphasizing the diverse representation of women across various career stages and global corporations.
“For me, it gives me tremendous pride to see how women come together, how they support each other, and how we really can change not only the world of work but the world to make it better for the younger generations,” Scully told Morocco World News.
Eileen Scully, Founder and CEO of the Rising Tides, speaking at the event
Scully, who is also the Founder and CEO of The Rising Tides, delved into her work as a consultant, addressing the shifts needed in organizations’ culture to create more inclusive and supportive workplaces for women.
Kaoutar El Maghraoui, a Principal Research Scientist at IBM TJ Watson, echoed Scully’s remarks and spoke passionately about the need for women to take on leadership roles in technology.
Shaping tomorrow’s tech
“Technology today is conquering every aspect of our lives. Women have to be part of creating that technology … They have to be part of influencing things, influencing certain decisions, working hand in hand with men,” she told MWN.
She highlighted the significance of mentorship, allies, and advocacy in supporting the younger generation and fostering women leaders in technology, especially in Morocco.
Principal Research Scientist at IBM TJ Watson Kaoutar El Maghraoui (left) at the event
According to El Maghrabi, this would be possible by equipping women with the skills they need to be successful in the workplace, “providing a pipeline for creating more leaders in the space.”
She emphasized the importance of such events in providing support, leadership opportunities, and mentorship for women.
“We need more of these events to inspire, empower, connect, and create a lot of collaborations with women and men all over the world and advance our country and the new generations to be more creative and impactful,” she concluded.
Celebrating Moroccan female engineers
For his part, Salah Al-Majeed, Dean of Al Akhawayn University’s School of Science and Engineering, highlighted the significance of the summit, saying that “Women in Engineering” is a flagship initiative of both IEEE and the university.
Al-Majeed proudly shared that the School of Science and Engineering, with over 1700 students, boasts a student body where more than half are female.
Salah Al-Majeed, Dean of Al Akhawayn University’s School of Science and Engineering
These female students “will contribute to society, leading science and engineering, math and all related technologies and lead in different sectors,” he said.
Morocco has one of the highest rates of female engineering graduates in the world. According to a 2021 UNESCO study, 42.2% of total engineering graduates in the country are women.
This statistic takes on added significance when compared to the numbers in some developed nations that often pride themselves on gender equality, including Canada (19.7%), the US (20.4%), Germany (21.1%), the UK (23.5%), Norway at (23.9%), and France (26.1%.).
Read also: French Media Spotlight Surge of Moroccan Women in Engineering Schools Compared to France
As Al-Majeed expressed plans for a new department in health, set to open doors in September 2024, he highlighted the university’s commitment to providing increased opportunities for female students to contribute not only to Morocco but on an international scale.
Attendees at the IEEE Women in Engineering Summit
The event is taking place on November 16 and 17 under the theme “Empowering Women in Technology: Fostering Innovation for Sustainable Impact and Entrepreneurship.”
It promises attendees insights from prominent keynote speakers, engaging panel discussions, a climate-focused Hackathon, and various networking opportunities.
According to the organizers, the event’s main objective is to bring together women who are actively engaged in the field of engineering, technology, and science around the world, and offer them the opportunity to share their “knowledge, experiences, and innovative ideas.”
Panelist speaking at the IEEE Women in Engineering Summit
