Women in IT

22, May, 2013Palestine al-Ahliya University

Eng.Asma H Sbeih

Women in computing Global concerns about current and future roles of women

in computing occupations gained more importance with the emerging information age.

These concerns motivated public policy debates addressing gender equality as computer applications exerted increasing influence in society.

Helped to expand information technology innovations and to reduce the unintended consequences of perceived sexism.

Women in computing Ada Lovelace:

Considered to be the first computer programmer.

She was born 10 December 1815. She was an English woman. She recognized as the

first algorithm intended to be processed by a machine.

Palestinian Women in Computing

Samia Jubran Totah: Is a Palestinian women that

received the award from an Arab Information & Communications Technologies (ICT) conference for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries in Beirut .

 Samia is a founding member of the Business Women Forum in Palestine.

Eng.Asma H Sbeih: Is a first Palestinian women,

that received award from global energy organization from Austria 2013. she was the winner from Palestine.

SurveyThe latest survey completed by the Palestinian Central Bureau

of Statistics for 2006 shows that a mere 5.4% of the total establishments in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are owned by women.

Another survey for 2008 suggested that out of the total salaried work force only 16% are females.

The same abides for the ICT sector where only 14% of the total ICT professionals working in different ICT establishments are female.

Statistics in IT

The IT sector is one of the most promising sectors in the Palestinian economy.

There is a significant 46% growth in the number of ICT firms in the last three years.

There is also a high percentage of female ICT graduates from our Palestinian higher education institutions reaching, in 2006, a total of 35%

Hebron University reached a rocketing percentage of 75% female graduates of the total ICT graduates for the same year.

Statistics in Business

It was shown in a recent study of the ICT sector that the largest percentage of women employees in ICT firms was programmers, followed by designers and system analysts.

Palestine is a country lacking natural resources, the ICT sector is the best chance of expanding investment only for the IT industry and business in Palestine.

Top 10 social Networks

Women relation with Social Networks

Palestinian Ministers

1. The Minister of Women's Affairs “Rab7iah thiab”2. Minister of Culture “Siham Al-Barghothy”.3. Minister of education “Lamees al-almy”.4. Minister of Social Affairs “Majedah Almasry”5. Minister of IT “Safaa Naser aldeen”

Recommendation

Finally, including the National Authority, the IT associations, the private and public sectors, and higher education institutions, have a responsibility to enhance this sector. And all have to realize the great importance this sector has on developing the Palestinian economy and the role women should undertake in IT in our country.