Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş said, “We believe that our girls will realize their potential and achieve successful things. Each of them will take on leading roles in the fields of science, technology and innovation and will become the bright leaders, entrepreneurs and scientists of tomorrow, and will shape the world.”
Minister Göktaş attended the 2015rd Phase Protocol Agreement signing ceremony of the Turkey's Engineer Girls Project in Istanbul, which has been ongoing since 3 in partnership with the Limak Foundation and the Ministry of Family and Social Services with the aim of increasing women's representation and employment in the field of engineering.
Speaking here, Göktaş congratulated young girls on February 11 International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Göktaş, who stated that they have taken a step together to further advance the Turkey’s Girls Engineers Project, which supports young girls in the field of science and technology, said, “This initiative, which has been implemented in Turkey as well as Kosovo, North Macedonia and Saudi Arabia, continues to grow on an international scale by training young female engineers. On this occasion, I would like to thank the Limak Foundation for supporting the dreams of female engineers and providing them with equal opportunities.”
Göktaş pointed out that in the new order called society 5.0, the industrial and social life of every country is rapidly transforming and said:
“This transformation, which is taking place with advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, robotics and the internet of things, is creating new professions of the future. It is estimated that 75 percent of professions in the near future will be in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, defined as STEM. Automation and digital technologies are constantly changing job content, working methods and success competencies. This transformation requires individuals to acquire new skills, embrace lifelong learning and adapt to the changing business world. Increasing the human resources trained in these fields is an important responsibility.”
Emphasizing that they aim to have young girls become strong role models in these professions with the Turkey’s Girls Engineers Project, Göktaş said, “We believe that our girls will realize their potential and achieve successful things. Each of them will take on leading roles in the fields of science, technology and innovation, becoming tomorrow’s bright leaders, entrepreneurs and scientists, and will shape the world. Therefore, we see every investment made for the education of girls as a valuable investment made for both their future and the future of our country.”
“We are working to ensure that girls have equal opportunities in every field”
Minister Göktaş said that according to the latest data, 56,2 percent of university entrants are women, while only 34,4 percent of graduates in STEM fields are women.
Noting that in a world where 95 percent of all work is digital, supporting the presence of women and girls in this area is of critical importance, Göktaş continued as follows:
“As stated in our country’s 12th Development Plan, our main goal is to increase the education and employment of women and girls in STEM fields. In addition, in our Ministry’s Women’s Empowerment Strategy Document and Action Plan, we have determined that women and girls gain skills compatible with green economy, technology and digital transformation among our main priorities. Under the leadership of our President, we are working to ensure that girls have equal opportunities in all areas.”
Göktaş stated that Turkey's Engineer Girls Project is a study they carry out with great sensitivity on this issue.
She stated that the project has reached 37 young female engineering candidates in 68 universities in 1546 provinces and 40 thousand people in 125 schools in 54 provinces, and shared the following:
“281 students who graduated were offered employment opportunities in companies in different sectors, and 135 students were offered internship support. In addition to scholarship support, the project also provides internship and employment opportunities, and training in various fields, especially languages. We also support our students in bringing their entrepreneurial ideas to life by bringing them together with successful female engineers, investors and financial institutions. In other words, with this project, we are not only supporting the professional development of young girls receiving engineering education. We are also supporting their self-confidence in their development.”
Following the speech, Minister Göktaş, Limak Group of Companies and Limak Foundation Board of Directors Chairwoman Ebru Özdemir and Women in Technology Association Founding Chairwoman Zehra Öney signed the protocol.
The program ended with a family photo. Minister Göktaş also had a souvenir photo taken with Clinical Psychologist Kübra Çavğa, who lives in Egypt and came to Istanbul to see him.
Students, graduates, mentors and representatives of stakeholder companies who benefit from the project also attended the signing ceremony.
