Programme Background and Introduction
International Girls in ICT Day Girls in ICT Day is celebrated worldwide every year on the fourth Thursday of April (28 April 2022). Girls in ICT Day provides an opportunity for girls and young women to see and be exposed to the benefit of ICT in enabling their careers and aspiration. Over 377,000 girls and young women have taken part in more than 11,400 celebrations of International Girls in ICT Day in 171 countries worldwide.
The Girls in ICT works to cultivate the presence and digital skills of young women and girls [aged 12-24] in the career field of STEM, particularly ICTs. Given the success of this initiative each year, ITU will continue the efforts to promote Girls in ICT not solely on one day of the year but throughout the year, with 2022 marking a launching point for a new model of Girls in ICT year-long activities.
Girls in ICT activities follow the 2023 “Digital Skills for Life!”. According to ITU’s latest data in 2022 in Asia and the Pacific, the proportion of women using the Internet globally amounts to 63 per cent, compared to 69 per cent of men. If women are unable to access the internet and feel unsafe online, they are unable to develop digital skills and participate in digital spaces, diminishing their opportunities to pursue a career in STEM fields.
In Thailand, the Girls in ICT Day initiative aims to encourage girls and young women to pursue studying STEM, enhance their level of digital skills, and raise awareness of the meaningful and safe use of ICT.
The celebration is organized by Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (Office of the NBTC), Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) and ITU Asia and the Pacific Regional Office in partnership with the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office in Thailand (UNRCO in Thailand), the Asia Pacific Telecommunity, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), UN WOMEN, USAID, Cisco, Code.org, Huawei, Supernap, Japan Brand Communication, AWS, Digital Council Thailand, Chulalongkorn University, Thammasat University, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), AI Center, Huawei, April and July 2023 in conjunction with a series of the training programme.
The Opening Ceremony was held in hybrid mode at Raddison Blue Plaza Bangkok, Sukhumvit and in hybrid mode and via Zoom platform on 27 April 2023.
After organising three months of training programmes, the final session will conclude all activities and close the Girls in ICT Day Thailand 2023 celebration. These activities include three different tracks such as digital inclusion, digital skills, ICT Career with over 1000 students and teachers participating from 27 April to 31 July.
Final Session of The Girls in ICT Day Thailand is co-organised by Office of the NBTC, MDES, ITU and hosted by UNRCO. This event will be physically held at the UNCC Bangkok, Thailand on 31 July 2023. As the last activity, this session will close the 35 digital skills training programmes and activities that have been conducted throughout the Girls in ICT Day Thailand.
Moving forward, girls and young women who participated in the Girls in ICT Day digital skills training programmes will share their experiences and aspirations carried over from what they achieved after attending several sessions.
The programme will feature the Final Session of The Girls in ICT Day Thailand 2023
Highlights of the Final Session
Provisional Agenda
09:00–10:00hrs: Registration
10:00-10:30hrs: Final Session of The Girls in ICT Thailand 2023
Session moderator:
- Rury Demsey, Junior Project Officer, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Welcoming remarks
- Atsuko Okuda, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, ITU
Special address:
- Thasawan Samorwong, Director of International Organization Group, Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES)
- Nicola Bennet, Senior Policy Officer, International Engagement – ITU & APT, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, Government of Australia
- Notachard Chintakanond, Executive Director, International Affairs Bureau Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) [pre-recorded video]
- Duriya Amatavivat, Special Advisor, Ministry of Education Thailand [pre-recorded video]
Opening remarks:
- Ms. Gita Sabharwal, UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand
10:30-10:40hrs: Group photo session
10:40-11:10hrs: Girls in ICT Sharing Moment: “Digital skills for life!”
Session moderator:
- Ms. Furuo Li, Girls in ICT Day Asia and the Pacific Intern and focal point, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
- Ms. Yodwadee Dissara, National Consultant of Girls in ICT Day Thailand 2023, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Girl representatives to start sharing their experience and aspirations based on inquiries asked by the moderators.
This session will bring selected participants (Girl representatives) to share their experiences and lessons learnt from the Girls in ICT Day Thailand 2023. They will also share their aspirations for future engagements in ICTs, especially in creating an accessible and safe digital environment and society for girls and women in Thailand.
- Ms. Siriporn Issalam , Uthaiwittayakhom School
- Ms. Phonnaphat Khamphinit, United World College Thailand
- Ms. Prachaya Sirimahaariyapoya, Mental Me
- Ms. Kewalin Phimkhan, Banraiwitthaya school
- Ms. Atitaya Phoemphon, Teach for Thailand
- Ms. Yalyn Temrat, Thammasat University
- Ms. Kyawt Tinzar Htun, School of Global Studies, Thammasat University
- Ms. Parnrapee Bunrit, Khonkaen University, Khonkaen Province, Thailand [pre-recorded video]
- Ms. Saruta Meengam, Thammasat University [pre-recorded video]
(Each speaker to have 5 minutes max. focusing on the information required to be shared)
11:10-11:20 hrs: Interactive activity
Facilitator:
- Ms. Yodwadee Dissara, National Consultant of Girls in ICT Day Thailand 2023, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Quiz on “Girls in ICT: Digital Skills for Life!”
- Platform: Click here to join Slido quiz or please join the quiz at Slido.com with the code #2318774
11:20-11:25 hrs: Showcase of achievements during Girls in ICT Day Thailand 2023
Video compilation of the students’ participation during the Girls in ICT Day Thailand 2023 digital skills training programme and series of events powered by Girls in ICT Day Thailand 2023 partners from 27 April to 31 July 2023.
11:25-11:55 hrs: Empowering Girls in ICT: Planning for the next Girls in ICT Day Thailand
In preparation for the International Girls in ICT Day 2024 with the theme of “Leadership”, a consultation session will be conducted to develop the plan for the Girls in ICT Day Thailand next year. This session will invite girls, young women, and female students aged 16-24 who participated in the previous event to actively contribute their suggestions in an interactive discussion.
The objective of this session is to learn about the challenges and barriers faced by girls and young women in Thailand to encourage them study in STEM and ICTs. Additionally, it aims to gather insights to organize future activities with partners. Through this consultation session, valuable input from girls and young women will be incorporated to shape the upcoming Girls in ICT Day Thailand programme.
The session will divide the 60 students into two groups, Group A and Group B. The guest speaker will ask a question to each of the two groups (Group A and Group B). Each group will be given 10 minutes to discuss, and the team leader of each group will be invited to present their feedback in 3 minutes each.
If time permits, the guest speakers will be invited to interact with the students and provide more insights about women’s leadership in the ICT sector.
Facilitators:
- ITU Girls in ICT Thailand team
Guest Speaker:
- Ms. Nicola Bennet, Senior Policy Officer, International Engagement – ITU & APT, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, Government of Australia
Question to be asked by the guest speaker:
“Many girls and young women face obstacles to acquire access, digital skills, and leadership to pursue study or career in the ICT sector. How do you think the Girls in ICT can better support you (participants) to overcome these challenges?”
Leader of Group A:
- Ms. Prawphat Srisuwan, Satrinonthaburi school
Leader of Group B:
- Ms. Alisha Farinacci, Thammasat University
11:55-12:00hrs: Closing Remarks
Session moderator:
- Rury Demsey, Junior Project Officer, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Closing Speech:
- Atsuko Okuda, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, ITU
Word Cloud Question:
- Moderator invites participants to share one key takeaway word from the Girls in ICT Day Thailand celebration 2023
- Moderator reads out the words for cloud on “In one word, how would you describe series of activities delivered in last three months as part of the Girls in ICT Day Thailand 2023?”
Platform: Click here to join Slido word cloud poll or please vote at slido.com using code #1965378
12:00-12:30hrs: UNCC Tour
Coordinators:
- UNESCAP and ITU
Group photo session